You’ve probably become an expert multi-tasker, able to juggle two – or even three or four – tasks at the same time. It seems like the model of efficiency. But in fact, it’s probably adding to your stress, making you finish everything more slowly, and affecting the quality of your performance, scientists say. It turns out that our brains aren’t wired to attend to several different things at once. Better for you: Vow to focus on just one thing at a time. When the e-mail pings or your cell phone rings, finish what you’re doing first and then attend to the next item. Force yourself to downshift, and you might just wind up feeling more energized and accomplish more.
-- Paula Spencer Scott
