It’s Time To Kill Multi-Tasking

I like to multi-task, and I find that I can get in a nice groove bouncing, using each task to catapult into the next. Honestly, I'm getting quite frustrated with the attack on multitasking, as if there's only one way to get things done.

Going further, I'm starting to get the feeling that the pomodoro technique is becoming too hip for its own good. I find it easier to follow my own flow than try to manipulate it with intense time management.

One word: discipline.

I just installed Pomodoro for OSX, seems very well done. http://pomodoro.ugolandini.com/

I've been telling managers that the concept of multi-tasking is idiotic for years. But bad managers like the idea, so they thought they could just tell you to multi-task and then everything would turn out hunky-dory. It's nice to hear other people saying die to the concept. I feel validated. Now, back to drinking coffee and posting on HN while driving and eating a ham sandwich. Cheers.

Wow, it seems all of the advice is unnecessarily creating stress where the person tries to get software/hardware to restrict access. This will ultimately fail for people seeking freedom to work, especially entrepreneurs.

I think it's best to have a TODO list and follow it.

From the article: "Doing the hard, creative work first."

I'm doubtful that this is a good strategy for everyone. There are a lot of time use approaches and this doesn't seem like it would work for me. Especially, whether it would help me to wake up earlier or not, I know I wouldn't do unless I was essentially forced to by needing to do something then.

One of the things about a lot of the time-management schemes is that they are simplified for general purpose time use strategies and thus it's easy to find one part that doesn't work for you and take that as a wall.

I do like the idea of a mechanical kitchen timer - it's very unfortunate that they've been replaced by the electric kind in most stores.

calling an app to prevent you from doing something "Freedom" is perverse double think.

It's been well documented that our attention operates in a spotlight sort of way. We can handle immediate tasks better one at a time. Of course, our brain is always working and new tasks and ideas start to form on the fringe and we being the impulsive humans we are would rather work on something new and different. This is purely because the variety of tasks is more exhilarating than the productivity and accomplishment of even one task.

Multitasking should just be finishing one task well enough and having the long-term focus to know what task should be tackled upon next.

I've left a couple of comments on HN about the perils of multitasking. Didn't go over well. Not a popular idea here... unless you can find something online to back you up!