7 Secrets to Stop Multitasking
Last Updated March 6, 2025
Multitasking feels like a survival skill, especially for solopreneurs, parents, and busy professionals. Juggling multiple tasks at once seems necessary, but studies show that it actually reduces productivity by up to 40%. Instead of making progress, you’re stretching your focus too thin, leading to mistakes, stress, and mental fatigue.
Tell me if this is what happens to you:
You sit down to work for the day. If you're trying to get ahead, you wrote out your to-do list the night before.
You start with menial tasks first, while the caffeine works its magic.
While you're working on your 2nd (or in my case 4th) cup of coffee, your brain starts to wake up and want to do productive things.
At this point, you are halfway through your email and quite possibly down the rabbit hole of social media.
You flit back and forth between interesting articles, half-read blogs, notes-to-self, and responding to clients.
You have 21 internet browser tabs open.
You take a short break because you don't feel like you're getting much done and you're starting to get overwhelmed.
You decide to work on a project that doesn't require the internet, like creating blog graphics or mapping out an ebook.
Your phone or other notifications start pinging you - email, Facebook, texts, etc.
It's now 4 or 5 PM. You need to think about the evening family to-do's, you didn't get to the gym or even go on a walk, and everything is half done.
CRAP. *sigh*
I have been there. Some days I am still there.
After several years in business, working from home with a growing family, business pivots, and moving states — I am constantly working on ways to be more productive and just not feel so scattered every day.
A routine or habit that works at one point might not work a season or a year from now, so you have to reassess how you structure your time and work.
There are endless articles that assert how bad multitasking actually is for success and productivity.
"Multitasking Damages Your Brain And Career, New Studies Suggest"
If you frequently find yourself bouncing between tasks, losing track of priorities, and ending the day feeling unaccomplished, it’s time for a shift. The key to working smarter is eliminating multitasking and learning to focus deeply on one thing at a time. Here’s how:
01. Stop Checking Your Email First Thing
It’s tempting to check your inbox as soon as you wake up. You might tell yourself it’s just a quick scan, but before you know it, you’re responding to messages, clicking links, and getting pulled into other people’s priorities before tackling your own. This reactive start to the day disrupts focus and makes it harder to transition into meaningful work.
When you check email first thing, it’s easy to lose sight of the day’s priorities and get sucked into a rabbit hole of quick tasks that make you feel like you’re accomplishing something, when the reality is you aren’t accomplishing the right things.
Instead, protect your most productive hours by setting an intentional morning routine. Give yourself time to wake up, set priorities, and start your day on your terms before diving into emails.
Actionable Steps:
Set a morning buffer. Wait at least 30–60 minutes before checking email.
Use time blocks. Schedule dedicated email check-ins (e.g., 10 AM and 3 PM) instead of constantly refreshing your inbox.
Communicate expectations. Set an autoresponder or notify clients that you check email at specific times.
By resisting the urge to check your inbox first thing, you’ll create space for focused work and set a proactive tone for the day.
➡️Read more about how to manage your email so you don’t get distracted by it throughout your day.
02. Give Your Brain a Chance to Wake Up
Starting your day in a mental fog leads to scattered thinking. When you jump straight into work without allowing your brain to transition, you’re more likely to multitask and struggle with focus. Instead, ease into the day with simple activities that energize your mind and body.
Even if you don’t have time for an extensive morning routine, a few intentional minutes can make all the difference. The goal is to create a transition from sleep to productivity that prepares you to focus deeply.
Actionable Steps:
Move your body. Stretch, take a short walk, or do a few yoga poses to wake up your mind.
Avoid screens. Instead of grabbing your phone, start with journaling, meditation, or deep breathing.
Hydrate and fuel up. Drink water and eat a nourishing breakfast to support brain function.
A slow, intentional start reduces morning chaos and helps you approach work with a clear and focused mind.
03. Write Your To-Do List the Night Before
Waking up without a plan leads to wasted time and decision fatigue. When you don’t know what to focus on, it’s easy to get distracted by low-priority tasks or fall into the multitasking trap. Writing your to-do list the night before eliminates this problem by giving you a clear roadmap for the day.
A good to-do list is realistic, prioritized, and specific. Instead of listing 20 things, focus on a few key tasks that truly move the needle.
Actionable Steps:
Limit your top priorities. Identify 2–3 critical tasks for the day.
Use a secondary list. Keep a separate list for smaller tasks that aren’t urgent.
Write with clarity. Instead of vague items like "work on project," write "draft two sections of blog post."
Starting the day with a clear direction helps you stay focused and eliminates the temptation to multitask.
04. Batch Similar Tasks for Efficiency
Switching between different types of tasks is mentally exhausting. Your brain needs time to adjust when shifting from writing to answering emails or designing graphics. Instead of constantly jumping between activities, batch similar tasks together to maintain focus.
For example, dedicate certain days or time blocks to specific types of work. This approach reduces cognitive overload and allows you to work more efficiently.
Actionable Steps:
Theme your days. Assign each day to a specific focus (e.g., Monday: content creation, Tuesday: client work).
Group similar tasks. Process all emails at once, schedule all social media posts in one session, or handle all invoicing together.
Use a task management system. Tools like Notion, Asana, or Trello can help organize your batches.
Batching minimizes distractions and allows you to fully engage in one type of work at a time.
05. Set Dedicated Time for Learning and Growth
Consuming new information throughout the day might seem productive, but it often leads to multitasking. You start reading an article, then jump to another, leaving everything half-finished. Instead of constantly switching between learning and work, set dedicated time for professional development.
When you create space for learning, you absorb and apply new knowledge more effectively.
Actionable Steps:
Schedule learning time. Set aside 30–60 minutes a week for business books, courses, or webinars.
Take notes. Jot down insights and action items to apply later.
Avoid passive scrolling. Be intentional about what you consume instead of mindlessly browsing.
Making learning a structured part of your schedule prevents distractions and maximizes its impact.
06. Establish a Hard Stop Time for Work (or STAAAHHHP)
Working without boundaries leads to burnout and inefficiency. Without a clear stopping point, you’re more likely to procrastinate, work longer than necessary, and blur the lines between work and personal time. Setting a defined end to your workday prevents endless task-switching and improves work-life balance.
Actionable Steps:
Decide on a cutoff time. Whether it’s 6 PM or 9 PM, stick to a consistent work schedule.
Create a shutdown routine. Close your laptop, review the next day’s tasks, and step away from work.
Set digital boundaries. Turn off notifications and resist checking emails after hours.
A firm stopping point gives you the space to recharge and approach the next day with fresh energy.
07. Reevaluate Your Schedule Regularly
When I time block my calendar, it gets stale and I forget what I'm supposed to be doing when. The reminders are dismissed just like every other popup and are ignored. While I love structure, I also get bored easily and need flexibility. About once every 4-6 weeks I reassess my Ideal Work Week and batch days to see what needs to be tweaked.
What works today may not work six months from now. Productivity strategies need to evolve as your workload, priorities, and personal life change. Regularly reassessing your schedule ensures that you stay on track and avoid slipping back into bad habits.
Actionable Steps:
Review every 4–6 weeks. Assess whether your time blocks and routines are still effective.
Identify what’s working. Keep habits that boost productivity and drop those that don’t.
Stay flexible. Allow room for adjustments as your needs change.
Continuous improvement keeps you productive while preventing stagnation and burnout.
Conclusion:
Multitasking isn’t making you more productive—it’s slowing you down. By eliminating distractions and focusing on one task at a time, you can work smarter and feel more accomplished at the end of each day. Try these seven strategies and see how much more clarity and efficiency you gain!
My 7 best tips for eliminating multitasking are:
Don’t check your email first thing.
Give your brain a chance to wake up.
Have a list of to-do’s that was written down the night before.
Schedule recurring tasks into batch days.
Schedule education time.
Stop (or STAAAHHHP).
Reassess your calendar consistently.
