Multitasking Myths and Methods by Jim Stovall

You may have noticed in most fields of endeavor that the latest cutting-edge information or state-of-the-art breakthroughs often shift and change. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of nutrition. A generation ago, we were told that eggs were bad for us and should be avoided at all cost. Today, many doctors and nutritionists say that eggs should be regularly consumed as a high-quality form of protein. You can go crazy trying to peer through the murky and mysterious information and advice.

I had the privilege of interviewing the esteemed movie and TV actor Eddie Albert, and he may have had the best response to the shifting state of nutritional recommendations.  When I arrived at Mr. Albert's home for the interview, he asked if I would like a cup of coffee while we were waiting for my crew to set up the lights, cameras, and equipment.  When I told him I would enjoy having a cup of coffee with him, he handed me a laminated card and explained that he had been faithfully drinking two cups of coffee every morning for over 70 years, regardless of the constantly-shifting medical and nutritional advice on the merits or harmful aspects of caffeine.  When he saw an article in the Los Angeles Times extolling the positive virtues of coffee, he cut it out, copied it, and had it laminated as the last word on the subject.   

More than a decade ago, business and success publications began presenting the value of multitasking.  On the surface, it seemed obvious that if you could do two things at once, you could get twice as much done.  Then recently, the opposing theory has emerged that multitasking makes us less productive and more prone to errors.  As in most two-sided arguments, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. There are definitely times when multitasking is inefficient and even dangerous. The most recent statistics on texting while driving bear this out. 

On the other hand, as a daily consumer of high-speed audiobooks, I'm convinced that if you are performing a physical task such as exercising or mowing the lawn, you can listen to audiobooks and greatly increase your productivity.  While you should never text and drive as it diverts your eyes from the road, you can listen to audiobooks while you drive and turn your daily commute into a classroom.   

Whether it's multitasking or consuming coffee, we should listen to all the advice we can but apply it judiciously. As you go through your day today, consider how multitasking might multiply your time.

Today's the day!