Summary: <a href="http://www.gayleallen.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blog-Post-Devora-Zack.png" rel="attachment wp-att-3095"></a>Multitasking is a myth. And we are poorer for trying to do it.<br> The research shows that we have less productivity, more stress, diminished creativity, and poorer relationships when we try to do many things at once. And yet, in a hyper-connected world, we can often feel like we have no other choice.<br> And yet, if we honored how are brains are designed, we would see that singletasking is the answer. That is the message and the research that <a href="http://www.myonlyconnect.com/">Devora Zack</a>, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Singletasking-More-Done-One-Thing-Time/dp/162656261X">Singletasking: Get More Done — One Thing at a Time</a>, wants you to hear. And she gives practical tips about how to do it even in the most frenetic of moments.<br> Devora is the author of two previous books, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Networking-People-Who-Hate-Underconnected/dp/1605095222">Networking for People Who Hate Networking </a>and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Managing-People-Who-Hate-Yourself/dp/1609945735">Managing for People Who Hate Managing</a>, and CEO of <a href="http://www.myonlyconnect.com/">Only Connect Consulting</a>. She’s worked with clients at Cornell University, London Business School, and Deloitte, and is a visiting faculty member at Cornell University. Her work has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal.<br> In this interview, we talk about:<br> <br> The myth of multitasking<br> How single tasking ups our productivity and creativity and state of flow<br> Using time shifting to avoid a multitasking mindset<br> The price we pay for multitasking<br> The fact that excessive media multitaskers have trouble remembering<br> Why single tasking requires us to commit to a choice<br> Tips for starting small with single tasking<br> The three different ways most of us make sense of the world and why they matter<br> How accessibility and our need to please can prevent us from single tasking<br> Why single tasking lets us bring the best version of ourselves to what we do<br> The fact that some prefer to shock themselves than sit in silence<br> How device-free staff meetings can increase focus and productivity<br> A great tip for being more fully present with friends and family<br> Ways to build fences to prevent interruptions before they occur<br> The power of cluster tasking with tasks we do daily<br> What we can do and say when colleagues interrupt us<br> Tips for open plan offices and colleague interruptions<br> What team members think and feel about leaders who single task<br> The connection between happiness and single tasking<br> <br> Selected Links to Topics Mentioned<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/Devora_Zack?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">@Devora_Zack</a><br> <a href="http://www.myonlyconnect.com/">http://www.myonlyconnect.com/</a><br> <a href="http://calnewport.com/books/deep-work/">Deep Work by Cal Newport</a><br> <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/people-prefer-electric-shocks-to-being-alone-with-their-thoughts/373936/">People Prefer Electric Shocks to Being Alone with Their Thoughts</a><br> <a href="http://slowreadingco.com/">Slow Reading Club</a><br> If you enjoy the podcast, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Steindl-Rast">please rate and review it on iTunes.</a> For automatic delivery of new episodes, be sure to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-minds-innovation-inspiration/id1049183266?mt=2">subscribe</a>. As always, thanks for listening!<br> Thank you to Emmy-award-winning Creative Director <a href="https://vimeo.com/vanidavae">Vanida Vae</a> for designing the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-minds-innovation-inspiration/id1049183266?mt=2">Curious Minds</a> logo,
