This Year, I’m Not Multitasking

This year, I’m intentionally working on not multitasking.

For me, multitasking is a no-no this year, not because I lack ambition, passion, or goals, but because I’ve learned something important about how I feel when I stay present in the current task. I feel better when I work on a task and complete it. I feel calmer. More grounded. More aligned.

Now, let me be clear, this does not mean that if a task takes two days, three days, or even a few weeks, it’s the only thing I’m working on. Life doesn’t work that way. Growth doesn’t work that way.

What I’m saying is this: I am no longer trying to do everything at the same time.

This year isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what’s true enough to keep.

Multitasking vs. Meaningful Living

Multitasking is often praised as a strength, but in practice, it can quietly pull us away from ourselves.

Here’s why I’ve chosen to step away from it.

1. Multitasking Increases Stress

When we juggle too many things at once, our nervous system stays in a constant state of alert. The brain wasn’t designed to hold multiple points of focus simultaneously; it switches rapidly, which creates tension and fatigue.

2. Productivity Actually Drops

It feels productive to do many things at once, but studies show the opposite is true. Task-switching slows us down, increases errors, and stretches simple tasks into longer ones.

3. Focus Becomes Fragmented

When your attention is divided, presence disappears. You’re technically “doing,” but you’re not fully there. And presence is where clarity and peace live.

4. Memory and Retention Decline

Multitasking makes it harder for information to stick. When attention is split, experiences and lessons don’t fully register, leaving us feeling scattered and unfulfilled.

5. Creativity Suffers

Creativity needs space. It thrives in moments of depth, not division. When the mind is pulled in several directions, inspiration has nowhere to land.

6. Burnout Creeps In Quietly

Multitasking often blurs boundaries, especially between work, rest, and personal time. Without clear starts and stops, the body never fully recovers.

7. Relationships Feel the Impact

Being “half-present” with people we care about slowly erodes connection. True listening, laughter, and intimacy require undivided attention.

8. Mindfulness Becomes Impossible

You can’t be mindful and multitask at the same time. Mindfulness asks us to be here, not everywhere.

9. Self-Care Gets Pushed Aside

When everything feels urgent, rest and care become optional. Over time, this disconnects us from our own needs.

What I’m Choosing Instead

I’m choosing intentional focus. I’m choosing completion over chaos. I’m choosing to work on things in layers, not all at once.

I still have multiple passions. I still have goals. I still have responsibilities.

But I’m giving each one the respect of my full attention when it’s their turn.

Because happiness doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from doing what feels honest, sustainable, and aligned.

And this year, that means less multitasking and more trust in my own rhythm.

✨ What would shift for you if you focused on one thing at a time—without guilt?

Shani T. Night

Happiness Coach