The Productivity Myth That’s Burning You Out
Why Mono-Tasking Beats Multitasking Every Time
Let’s be honest — life feels relentless.
You're juggling meetings, messages, deadlines, family, goals, and self-care — all while trying not to drop the ball. Sound familiar?
If you're constantly busy but not making meaningful progress, there's a good chance you're caught in the myth of multitasking.
In my coaching, I see this often: ambitious, capable people trying to do it all, all at once — and ending up stressed, scattered, and stalled.
Here’s the truth: multitasking is not a superpower. Mono-tasking is.
What Is Mono-Tasking?
Mono-tasking (or single-tasking) is the practice of doing one thing at a time — fully, mindfully, and without distraction.
It’s a skill that runs completely counter to the always-on, notification-fueled culture we live in — but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do to feel calmer and get real results.
Why Multitasking Isn’t Helping You
We’ve been sold the idea that multitasking makes us more efficient. But science shows the opposite:
It drains your brain: Every time you switch tasks, your brain uses extra energy to refocus.
It leads to more mistakes: Juggling too much increases your chances of errors.
It feeds overwhelm: A cluttered attention span leads to a cluttered mind — and burnout.
📚 Studies from Stanford, MIT, and the University of Utah all confirm it: the brain doesn’t truly multitask — it just toggles between tasks. And that toggling comes at a cost.
Real-World Benefits of Mono-Tasking
Mono-tasking brings tangible benefits that go beyond productivity. It enhances your focus, allowing you to drop into "deep work" — a concept popularised by Cal Newport — where attention is undivided and flow becomes possible. It also improves memory; research shows that those who mono-task retain more information, whereas multitasking tends to overload working memory and impair learning. Perhaps most overlooked is the sense of satisfaction it creates — completing a task fully gives you a sense of closure and a small, motivating dopamine hit. When you're truly present with your work, you finish more meaningfully and feel more fulfilled.
The Calm Coach Approach: Planning, Prioritisation, Performance
This is where my three coaching pillars come in:
🗓️ 1. Planning
Mono-tasking starts with intention. When you structure your day with clear focus blocks, you reduce mental clutter and create calm.
🎯 2. Prioritisation
Doing one thing at a time means choosing what truly matters. Mono-tasking trains you to focus on what deserves your attention right now.
🏁 3. Performance
Deep focus means better work. Mono-tasking supports flow, reduces mistakes, and helps you finish tasks fully — not half-done and half-frazzled.
How to Start Mono-Tasking Today
Here are five simple ways to bring more focus into your workflow:
Time-block Your Day: Dedicate chunks of time to specific tasks. Tools like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused work, 5-minute break) can help.
Mute distractions — Turn off notifications, close unused tabs, and put your phone in another room.
Start small — Just 30 minutes of mono-tasking a day can shift your mindset.
Reflect weekly — Notice which tasks actually had a real impact. You’ll spot a pattern: they were done with full attention.
Practice Mindfulness: Training attention through mindfulness meditation improves your ability to stay focused on one thing at a time.
An Invitation
If you’re ready to stop spinning and start making focused, confident progress, mono-tasking is a powerful first step.
It’s not just a productivity tweak — it’s a mindset shift. One that aligns beautifully with a calmer, more intentional way of working.
As The Calm Coach, I guide clients using practical strategies rooted in Planning, Prioritisation, and Performance — no hustle, no overwhelm, just clarity.