Monotasking multiplies your effectiveness fourfold

We all pride ourselves on multitasking—the more apps open, the more we feel in control. Yet countless studies show it’s an illusion. Each switch between tasks costs you time and mental energy, chipping away at focus.

Think of your brain like a stopwatch: every time you jump from writing to email, you spend seconds reorienting. Multiply that by dozens of switches a day, and you lose hours of productivity without even realizing it.

Monotasking—dedicating a window to a single activity—lets you dive deep, maintain momentum, and complete complex work without the friction of context switching. It feels strange at first, like you’re ignoring half your life, but the results speak for themselves.

By blocking single-task windows, jotting down distractions on a side list, and silencing tech pings, you reclaim time and mental clarity. Over days, your energy stabilizes and you cross off more meaningful work.

Pick two 45-minute slots tomorrow and commit to only one task—shut off email, chat, and your phone. Keep a notepad for any unrelated ideas, knowing you’ll return to them later. If you need discipline, enable a focus mode or website blocker. At the end of each block, tally your output and admire how much more you accomplished. You’ll be surprised at how productive you can be.