Forget Multitasking- Try Simultasking (or, DUOTASKING!)

We've probably all heard about how "multitasking makes you stupid," namely, that trying to make your brain process two things at the same time makes you less effective at both tasks. (Here's a great article on that at the Wall Street Journal work and family blog, The Juggle.)

I do understand this, though arguably I think there are valid multitasking scenarios like walking & chewing gum and listening to audiobooks while cleaning or driving that make sense and are okay. (and even "workwalking"- see previous post!)

But if we shift our focus slightly, I would like to introduce the idea of "Simultasking"... I am defining it as setting a task in motion to operate independently while you work on a different task. Here are some examples of Simultasking:

• Starting a load of laundry to run while you cook breakfast
• Having a teenager run errands for you while you do other work or leisure activities
• Running a big print job on your printer while you do other work
• Installing software updates while you make a cup of tea
• Starting the oven cleaning cycle while you do other cleaning tasks
• Boiling water for pasta while you make the salad or prepare the bread
• Sending off a draft for comments and editing while you do other work
• Running the dishwasher while you sleep
• Watering the lawn while you read the newspaper 
• Using a slow cooker to make dinner while you work all day

Simultasking requires a few things to be successful:

• Visibility to your task list: Knowing the entirety of what tasks need to be done overall
• Identification of Simultasking tasks: Figuring out what things you could Simultask so that you will recognize them at the right time
• Preparation: Some tasks may require preparing information so you can delegate to someone or having something already sorted, purchased, or ready-to-go
• Forethought: Stopping to think ahead of your Simultasking tasks at moments of opportunity

I thought of this idea and then Googled it, because I don't want to accidentally take someone else's ideas and pass them off as my own. It turns out that Benjamin Watson over at The Deliberate Life has already used this word that I thought I made up, although he is using it differently... and Standard Microsystems Corporation has a trademark on "Simultasking" as it relates to computer chip processing. So there you go, but you know what they say about great minds thinking alike!  :) I am moving forward with my own definition here so we can discuss and add to the ideas.

>>>UPDATE: I have been thinking that "Duotasking" really works great here. I think I am going with that word now. And nobody is using it, so there you go! Done. Thanks, everyone!

Can you think of a better word for this? What are your favorite Simultasking task duos? Share with us in the comments!

Follow me on Twitter for my Daily #ClutterTweetTip: www.twitter.com/clutterdiet

Comments

[Susan Zelinski The Zen of Business. The Busines of Zen]

Lorie,
I believe it's your idea of "simultasking" that's a factor in distinguishing high performers. Cooking a great meal absolutely requires "simultasking". Managing a successful project couldn't be accomplished without it. I appreciate your list of what it takes to effectively "simultask". I think many try, and fewer are truly successful at it. Your tips on how to approach the process will help! I also love that you make the distinction that you are not trying to be "of two minds" with simutasking as is the case with the traditional mulit-tasking approach. I believe it's the split in our attention that reduces our effectiveness. Simultasking seems to be about highly organized execution rather than trying to give appropriate attention to more than one thing at a time! Kudos from a Zen perspective!

[Donna]

One lesson I always remember my mom teaching me is, never leave a room without taking something that needs to be taken out with you...make your trip to the next room count. Example, if trash if full and your going outside..take it with you. If something is in the wrong place and it's suppose to be in the room where you are headed..take it with you. Make your trip count..is what I remember. I now teach that to my daughter and it seems to help with keeping things tidy.

[Carole]

That's great. I always work like that, but never thought to give it as a valuable tip.

I always just thought of it as working smart.

[Betty]

Great tip Donn!

Simutasking can also be referred to as a "Two For".

Examples:
Cook dinner while straightening up the kitchen or catching up on reading.

Straightening my desk as I print computer documents.

Keep the suggestions coming!

[Betty]

Donna,

Sorry for referring to you in the above post as Donn!

[Phylllis Harb]

How about dualtasking?

[Louise Johnson]

My husband does this and didn't even know he was! He calls it time management.

[Donna @WWAHHMpreneur]

How about sync-tasking or Synchronized task management?

Your ideas and information are so valuable and helpful.

Thanks so much!

[Kathy]

I'm married to a computer programmer, so we have weird "computeresque" terms for lots of things. We call those kinds of tasks "Do-whiles", meaning you can do something else while the first job is doing itself.

[Genny Esterline]

I like duotasking and twofor. Who knew I was already doing all of these things.

Great post!

Genny Esterline
www.connectionsforwomen.com

[CS]

I'm so glad you think multitasking isn't good. As a job seeker, I recently wrote to a career help site asking how to handle a future job situation if the company encourages multitasking. They bascially said, good luck, it's not really possible, or smart. I don't work as well like that. Any thoughts on how I can discuss this with employers?

[Lorie Marrero]

CS- Well,I agree that it may not be possible or smart for one person to come in new and try to make a cultural change within an existing company. So I am not sure about advice on that except that is probably not the right job fit for you... If you must, though, maybe you can find a way to just do your job your way if you truly believe it's more productive-- and then prove it. I am mostly in the camp that it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. But "your mileage may vary" and all that. Good luck!

- Lorie

[Tam Sitkoff]

I get a little thrill whenever I find a way to duotask. It is like an Aha! moment. It feels good to be so efficient!

[Rachel]

Whilst out for the day, I phoned home to see if (or check that) hubby was getting some housework done.
He was obviously playing a computer game, from the background noise when he picked up the phone.
"what are you doing?"
"I'm doing laundry, I have laundry up to dry, I'm boiling water in a pot for pasta, and I put a cleaning product in the bath and toilet which I need to clean off in half an hour. How are you doing?"

needless to say, he was forgiven for the computer game.

We call them "meanwhile" tasks

[Marianne]

I love this concept and use it. I get excited when I can figure out a way to duotask. I love it. For instance I was going to make a Baked Potato Soup. But was dreading waiting for the Potatoes to cool after cooking as I had to peel them. I needed to get ready to leave the house, so I put the potatoes in the microwave (after scrubbing them and piercing them), started them cooking and left for my class. Came home and they were cool and cooked. I was so excited. I had a jump on dinner and did not have try to peel hot potatoes.

Thanks!

[Lisa Krushinski]

Love your comments, but one word of caution. Do not run your dishwasher or any other major appliance while you are sleeping or out of the house. It is a proven fire hazard! Just a safety FYI!