FitSugar

Stop Multitasking to Get More Done

Michele Foley — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:00:40 PST

The last time I saw my doctor, she left me with this advice: stop multitasking. Easier said than done. During the course of my day I may be IM-ing a colleague while also reading email and working on a FitSugar post. In my head it feels like I'm on top of things, "Look at me, I'm doing three things in the time it takes you to do one!" But, as my doctor pointed out, my performance on each task suffers because I'm distracted with another. It's hard, she says, for the human brain to juggle things simultaneously and switch gears quickly. I can accept that, but like I said, giving up on multitasking is easier said than done. Here are two tips my doctor recommends to make the shift from multitasker to "unitasker":

Break a day into chunks: Instead of constantly switching gears from one project to the next, give yourself an allotted amount of time to work on each project. Example: I devote the first 45 minutes of my morning to reading and replying to email, followed by a few hours of writing, and then back to email again. If I have other projects to work on during the day, I schedule those in my calendar, too. Having a daily list of tasks with an estimated time for each task also really helps because it gives you daily deadlines to follow.
Get rid of distractions: Nearby conversations, the TV, or street noise can take away from your ability to focus. If you find that you are easily distracted by sound or allow yourself to get wrapped up in a neighbor's conversation, put on earplugs. It's also important to remove distractions outside of work.

What tips can you add to the list?

Feeling Scattered at Work? Try Disconnecting

SavvySugar — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:45:59 PDT

Chances are, you're doing lots of other things simultaneously as you're reading this: checking email, IMing, maybe even doing a little work. By now we know that multitasking isn't all it's cracked up to be, but journalist and author William Powers takes that idea even further. In his new book Hamlet's BlackBerry, Powers suggests that we spend far too much time staring at "screens" - everything from computers to iPhones to TVs - and that our productivity is suffering because of it. Keep reading to find out more.

Do You Think You're Good at Media Multitasking?

TresSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:00:00 PDT

If you do, that might mean you suck at it.

Although we hear all the time that women are better at multitasking than men, a new study says that regardless of gender, media multitaskers (those who simultaneously use their computers, watch TV or text on their phones, for example) aren't as good at doing several things at once as they think they are.

The study was initiated when researchers asked themselves what it was about "high multitaskers" that allowed them to do what they do so well. But in experiments designed to test the two groups’ attention and memories, the group that defined themselves as consumers of multiple media did worse than the lower multitaskers. Ironically, it was the low multitaskers who were convinced they weren't going to be good at doing several things at once.

"The shocking discovery of this research," says Professor Clifford Nass of Stanford, "is that high multitaskers are lousy at everything that's necessary for multitasking." Now researchers want to know whether or not it's people with low multitasking skills who are drawn to multitasking, or if perhaps their jobs dull their ability to be good at it.

Do you think you're good at media multitasking?

Multitasking Move: Balancing and Brushing Teeth

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:00:00 PST

We all know that improving your balance can improve your life. As can good dental hygiene, so how about combining the two? You all know I love to multitask so recently when I am brushing my teeth, I balance on one leg for a minute and then on the other leg for another minute. This way I am getting in my two minute brush time, but I am also working on my balance as well. It's easy to do so try it out, and let me know what you think.

Source

Fit Tip: Move While You Wait

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:30:00 PST

Yesterday I went through my day and payed attention to all the times I am waiting. I waited in line at the grocery store, 5 minutes. I waited for the super-duper slow elevator here at Sugar HQ, 5 minutes. I waited for the bus in the morning, 10 minutes. I waited for my dog to find the absolutely perfect spot to relieve himself, 10 minutes (he's old and picky). I waited on hold with my hotel that screwed up a reservation, 10 minutes. That alone is 40 minutes of time that I spend waiting on any given day.

What I have decided is in the time I spend waiting, I could do little exercises. So for example, this morning while I waited for my dog to relieve himself, I did squats. When I was waiting for the elevator, and no one was there, I did more squats. I am not saying that you should drop and do 10 push ups in the middle of a crowded grocery store line, unless you don't embarrass easily, but just look at your day and really see where you spend time waiting and see how you can fit a little movement into it. Chances are you'll find pockets of 5 or 10 minutes where you can multitask and get fit while you wait.

Source

Get in Gear: Massage Gym Ball

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:30:00 PDT

I always see the most interesting gym accessories and one of the most interesting finds that I've recently come across is a Massage Gym Ball ($8.99).

Basically it is just like any other stability/exercise ball, except that it’s covered in little nubs -- My guess is that some people use it to get a mini-massage while doing their exercises on the ball. While I am all for multitasking, I have yet to find the need for this in my own home gym, but I find them interesting to use at the gym. If getting a mini massage while working your core sounds like a great idea, then buy the ball from Amazon.com.

iDo

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 02:30:00 PST

Are you going to be a June bride? Planning for the big day can be really stressful. Working women/brides-to-be have so much to think about: flowers, the ceremony, the cake, to honeymoon. Planning the wedding could easily become a full time job unto itself.

So you don't become too overwhelmed you are going to make multi-tasking a part of your planning process. So reach for your iPod and download podcasts to your iPod from iTunes. Here's a few for you to try: Wedding Planning Talk Radio (8 free episodes), Queer Eye (has a 9-episode wedding series), and 4 free podcasts from Bride Magazine.

For a small bit of change, you can download individual episodes of your favorite wedding-themed TV shows, or even get an entire season of the reality TV show, Whose Wedding is This Anyway? for $18.

Now busy brides can do 2 things at once - research wedding info while working out. That is truly great multi-tasking since you'll be listening to something while on the treadmill, make it an informative podcast.

5 Ways to Make Moving a Habit

Leta Shy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:52:25 PST

We all should take time to relax, but sometimes we don't realize just exactly how sedentary our lives can be. Even if you devote an hour to exercise most days, if you're not moving a lot the rest of the time, you can be doing more harm than good. So start making moving a habit with these five tips.

Keep track: One of the best ways to encourage yourself to move is to get a fitness monitor that tracks your steps. You don't have to invest a lot - while more sophisticated trackers (like these five fitness monitors) track your steps as well as your exercise (some can also distinguish between walking on flat ground and when you're going up steps), you can buy a basic pedometer for just a few dollars.
Try a one-minute move: Whether you're folding laundry or watching TV, multitask by building muscle while you work. Take a one-minute break to dance around or do squats, lunges, or planks, and you'll raise your heartbeat as well as your energy levels.

Read on for three more ways to making moving a habit.

5 Ways to Make Your Morning Routine Faster

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:25:54 PST

Do you find yourself skipping makeup and hair in the morning just so you can grab 15 or 20 precious extra minutes of shut-eye? Or worse, are you losing sleep to an overlong makeup routine? Don't do it! There's no need to suffer for beauty in the mornings, and we've got a few beauty tricks up our sleeves that can speed up anyone's maquillage. See five of our easiest ways to make mornings less painful below.

From the Fit Community: Leave Your Phone at Home When You Work Out

Fit Community — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:25:08 PST

FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wants you to know: you're hurting your workout when you bring your cell phone into the equation. She shared her three reasons you should stay cell phone-free at the gym in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

1. It’s hurting your workout (and could cause you to get hurt)

If you can text or talk on the phone during any part of your workout, you aren’t working hard enough. Exercise requires a mind/body connection (yes, even the time you spend on the treadmill) and your cell phone seriously disrupts the communication signals between your mind and your body.

Even if you think you are the most talented texter, or multitasker to ever walk the earth, don’t kid yourself - many studies have shown cell phone distraction as even worse than being drunk – so if you wouldn’t run that mile, take that spin class or do Pilates totally wasted, then your phone shouldn’t be out during your workout. Not paying attention during exercise is dangerous and can cause you to hurt yourself - in a big way. Not to mention, it slows you down! Even if you stop to text in between exercises, you are slowing down your flow - and your heart rate. Not a good way to get results.

Read more reasons for keeping your cell phone at home after the break.