Uni-tasking
If you’d ask me to recommend one thing that can have the most impact on your productivity, it would be to learn how to uni-task (single-task). Uni-tasking is amazing. Simple word “focus” just didn’t seem to nail it close enough.
Surely, there are countless methodologies of planning and self-management, and tools to get you organized, but, although I’m a great fan of them, they often lead to procrastination: “If only I can implement my new GTD mod using the tools X and Y, I surely can finish the project much faster.” But spending time learning new methods, implementing new workflows, and getting to grips with new tools just aren’t the best activities when you’re in the middle of a project and should be getting shit done.
Unitasking is quick to grasp. It isn’t about method, it’s about mindset. It’s like the fresh air when you, in your existing OS of choice, on your existing device of choice, manage to leave your cluttered workspace with a myriad of open windows behind, and create a focused environment and just sprint through your a single task.
How to unitask?
- Cut out all external sources of information
- Use fullscreen mode (on all the screens you have)
- Use split-screen (only if you are working on one screen)
- Get good noise isolating headphones
- Craft a DND sign
- Leave your usual workplace
1. Cut out all external sources of information
Yes, I’m talking about your phone. Always on, always in your field of view, your digital lease that makes you readily available to whoever decides to call / sms / mail you during your waking (or for some even sleeping) hours. Although I’m not a mac guy who puts apple stickers on the bumper of his car, I found mac has been suiting my workflow by implementing small features that made me happy to lock myself up in the apple ecosystem until there’s a solution that would better suit my needs. One of these small features is the “Do not disturb mode” on both the OS X and iOS that enables me to cut out the distractions. It’s always on during the night, and it’s on most of the day. It might not work for you if you need to answer calls from clients, but unless you need to be (REALLY need to be) ready to respond all of the time, it really pays of to cut yourself off, and then handle the calls later in one go.
2. Use fullscreen mode (on all the screens you have)
There’s a chance that the work you’re doing at any given time does not require you to have more than two (three) windows open at the same time. When you focus on a task, you don’t need to patrol your e-mail inbox or feel miserable about your task list. You just focus on one task. Try defining the tools you need for the job, put the apps in full screen. Hiding the toolbars and menu bars, your focus will improve. Switching apps might become cumbersome, but as long as what you want is the opposite, it’s perfectly OK. And yes, learning the keyboard shortcuts helps a great deal.
3. Use split-screen (only if you are working on one screen)
A feature of Windows 8 for quite some time now came to Mac with El Capitan, and recently to the new iPads makes it possible to have two apps in full screen even if you work without an external display. This is a great way to work in a two-app environment on the go. Though still not supported by all apps, and available in available as vertical split only, it makes a difference when you need to work with two windows. Might be a major deal for some (me included), for the rest of you, it will at least cut the need to manually position two windows to fit the screen.
In an open-space office, people come and go. Even in a private office, when people come and see no reaction from your side, they might understand that they are disturbing your circles and should come later. In any case, teach your colleagues that the time with earphones on, when there’s no reaction, is your focus time, and they should not pursue more drastic needs to grab your attention. Good noise-isolating or noise-cancelling headphones or earphones help the deal. After trying out several options, I settled for Etymotic HF3 which offer great isolation, have a remote for volume & play/pause, and very decent sound for their size. The SQ is nowhere near my AKG K-550, which I can recommend to anyone who wants great quality without breaking the bank, but considering their size, expecting similar performance would be rather unfair. If you’re on a budget, or don’t care so much for sound quality, any well-isolating plugs will do (Koss The Plug, cheaper Etymotics, …) As you won’t need to crank up the volume in order to “get isolation”, your ears will thank you in the long run.
5. Craft a DND sign
A colleague of mine has crafted a DND sign she puts on her desk when she needs to focus. Might help, though your milage may vary, it sure won’t harm.
6. Leave your usual workplace, and get offline
Sometimes, to get the job done, the best you can do is pack your stuff, head out to a park or a cafe and work alone, without a decent wifi, until the job is done. No colleagues, no distractions, no options other than do the job.
Although you might feel less productive in the beginning (we mostly live in an illusion that business = productivity), you will probably find, that you’re crossing out items off your task list much faster than before implementing your uni-tasking routine, and it should definitely give you a feeling that you’ve reclaimed the control of your own time. And that feels great.