Why Multitasking Wastes Time and Money

One at a Time: If you have developed the habit of multitasking, it may take some effort to break. Set aside blocks of time each day to work exclusively on one specific task. With a little practice and organization, you should find that you will be able to accomplish a lot more during these concentrated time blocks than you have been able to while multitasking.

Prioritize: To avoid procrastination and to make sure that the most important tasks get completed in a timely manner, make a list each day of which tasks need to be addressed. By working on the most important tasks in the priority order you determine, you have a work list that will help you avoid hopping from task to task.

Set Aside Time: If there are tasks you find consistently interrupting your main priorities, put limits on them. For example, break your habit of checking your email throughout the day and set aside a specific time for it in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Cut Out Interruptions: Reduce the likelihood of any interruptions that can get you sidetracked. If you are at your desk, working on your computer, turn off your instant messenger, lock out your email alerts and let coworkers know you are busy. If you find you need additional information to complete the task you're working on, make a list of everything and hold off to the end so you can gather it all at once.

Divide and Conquer: Research shows that resuming your work is more difficult if you have been interrupted while doing it rather than at a scheduled break. When you have large projects to work on, divide them into smaller parts. Instead of blocking off a full day to work on a project, reserve six one-hour blocks of time to work on specific areas. If you are interrupted, it will make it much easier to get back to the tasks at hand.