Dear Les, I’m not someone who likes to do many things at once, and I’m not particularly good at it. I’m currently looking for work and I’m distressed by how many ads I see that list multitasking as a job requirement. Please make me feel better by telling me that doing ten things at once is really bad for you and that my way will not keep me permanently unemployed. Solo Mio

Solo Mio,

Multiple “yes’s”: it can be counterproductive, unhealthy and even dangerous to do many things at once, and there are definitely jobs where one or two activities at a time will do—I’ll try to think of some for you.

Stress is the body’s response to demands that can include activities that you don’t mind and ones that you can’t stand. So, the more things we have to think about and do simultaneously, the more we’ll likely respond to those challenges with stress. There are people who love doing ten things at once and who thrive doing them while others prefer starting and finishing one or two tasks at a time. The first group may still get stressed, but because they generally feel okay about their multitasking, they will surely fair better than workers in the solo-tasking set who find themselves responding to e-mails, attending meetings, hand-holding clients and returning phone calls—all before 9:30AM. “Multitasking” is the new “organized” for more than one reason. Downsizing and cost= cutting mean that fewer people must do more things. It also doesn’t help that we can partake in many tasks at once thanks to technology that now permits phoning, texting, snacking and peeing all at the same time. This doesn’t mean that all can be done well or accurately, but it does give employers and employees license to take multitasking as a given. It won’t be long before “multitasking” is replaced by “e-fficient,” a term I just made up that means skilled, smooth and simultaneous operation of numerous handheld and stationary electronic devices.

And isn’t multitasking at work just a continuation of the busy lifestyles of today’s babies, preteens and adolescents with their abundant playdates, athletic events, tutoring and music lessons? None of these activities is bad, but an over-scheduled 3-year old receives a powerful message from the get-go that doing a lot is important and perhaps the only success-securing option. Interestingly, a 2004 University of Minnesota study suggests that the skill of multitasking develops through late adolescents, and sharpens as multitasking demands increase. That’s not necessarily a plug for multitasking while young since other studies found inferior recall and learning thanks to doing too many things at once.

You already know something very important about yourself: you don’t like to multitask. Looking for and landing a new job with this in mind may prevent a whole lot of future work stress.

Okay, how about these singletasking occupations and positions to aid you in your search: writer assembly line technician housepainter voiceover artist movie theater ticket taker lawn mower piano teacher manicurist Buchingham Palace guard

Good luck,

 Les
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