Introduction

Welcome back! I am your host, Dr. Moira. I hope you enjoyed Episode 1, which was an introduction to efficiency by finding focus. If you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, that’s ok. You can always go back when you have a moment.

For those of you just tuning in, the Coaching Hive podcast looks at topics and concerns that impact health coaches along their journey to guiding clients to improved health and wellness. The Coaching Hive empowers coaches to be focused with their learning intentions while maintaining forward business momentum.

Here at the Coaching Hive, our mission is to be effective, efficient, and have fun so that work becomes a joy, and you have dedicated time for the important things in life like your family, friends, and hobbies.

This podcast is rooted in learning and efficiency. In fact, to be more effective and efficient, each month we will focus on a single topic. That means 12 new learning topics a year AND time to dig in without feeling overwhelmed.

Let’s review a little bit about how the podcast works. Last week, at the start of the month, we began our series and this week we dive a little deeper. As always, I’ll offer you a chance to challenge yourself. I love hearing about your successes and helping you find solutions when you get stuck. I’m here to offer ideas and encouragement every step of the way. Next week, I have something fun planned, and then we will wrap up the month with a “Put It In Action” challenge. This challenge gives you a chance to put into practice what we have been talking about throughout the month in a specific and detailed way. I’ll even include a PDF to walk you through the “Put It In Action” process.

Just like me, you might be busy; you’re listening to this podcast as you take care of other tasks. These podcasts will always be child friendly, so go ahead and play it through your speaker while you fold clothes, prep your dinner, or make the bed.

Now that we have those details and reminders out of the way and you know where we’re headed, we can continue with our topic of efficiency!

The Topic

We are going to pick up today where we left off last week. We were discussing ways to find focus and this week we are going to talk about a key concept that fits right in. It is one that you have all heard about: multi-tasking. But is multi-tasking a boon or a detriment to our efficiency? That is the question we will explore today.

When you think about the term multi-tasking, what comes to mind? For me, I think about having my phone and planner nearby, my email open on my computer, then the actual task that is supposed to be getting my attention pulled up on my screen as well. I am engaging with all of these different possible tasks and current tasks at the same time, at least theoretically.

Multitasking by definition is the ability to “engage in multiple tasks aimed at attaining multiple goals simultaneously” (Sanbonmatsu, Strayer, Medeiros-Ward, & Watson, 2013). Research shows that people pursue multi-tasking for different reasons and with strikingly different levels of success.

Remember, just a minute ago, I asked you to come up with your image of multi-tasking in your life. I said, “When you think of the term multi-tasking, what comes to mind?” Do you have your idea of “multi-tasking” in mind yet? Were you able to think about that example while I continued with my own and even shared a definition with you? Maybe you are thinking, yes and maybe you are thinking, no. We will talk more about that today.

But I do really want you to think of a time when you multitask. You might be multitasking right now; I even gave you permission to do that when we got started. Maybe you are taking a walk and listening to this podcast at the same time. Perhaps you sit