Multitasking, that is, dealing with more than one task at the same time, can be nerve-racking. Everybody has to do it at some point in their lives. Parenthood comes at the top of the list, with a whole lot of multitasking; while working in the corporate world comes second. Your day-to-day life involves interaction with several people, all with different thinking and mindsets. You will be assigned work with strict deadlines and you might reach the point of ripping your hair out.
So, how do you save the hair on your head and avoid cracking under pressure? Here are some tried and tested step-by-step guidelines that will help you stay cool at work, even under immense pressure.
Create a checklist
Carry a notepad or a diary with you at all times. In an organised fashion, note down your tasks for the day. Create a checklist and fill up the check boxes as you go. This will not only increase your productivity throughout the day but also help you visualize the tasks and prioritize accordingly. This tip is guaranteed to help you multitask like a pro!
Prioritize
This brings us to the next important aspect – prioritizing. Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work? Not sure what to do first? First, stay calm. Complete those tasks first which are needed urgently and then move on to the less urgent ones. Have a chunk of work that needs a lot of time and concentration? Do it in the first half of the day when your mind is fresh. Do simple and mundane tasks later because you will manage to do it on autopilot.
Assign a time limit
How much time will you need to perform this specific task? Motivate yourself by setting a certain time limit and do your best to achieve it. Doing so might help you complete the work in time (or even before time), leaving you enough time for something else. Focus on the task at hand and do it well.
Plan ahead
Keep track of all the things that you have to do in the near future. Why? Because planning ahead will give you clarity and won’t cause last minute panicky situations. Panicking will lead to mistakes and you cannot afford to do that. Stay cool and plan ahead. It will help you in the long run.
Take a break
Working continuously will drain you and effectively reduce your quality of work. Take a break (or multiple short ones) to refresh your mind. Think about something else which is not work-related or chat with your colleagues. Listen to music on headphones or just close your eyes and meditate. Go for a walk nearby during break time and rejuvenate yourself. It will positively reflect in your work once you get back to it.
These are some of the important things you can do to stay calm and multitask at your workplace. Multitasking can be made less stressful if you do things in an orderly and organized manner. But if it makes you angry or depressed every single day, you need to rethink your career strategy and make necessary changes in your life.
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I think women are naturally more prone to multitasking than men. Being programmed to care for a child requires the ability to multitask.