We’ve all heard that multitasking is a key to productivity.
But the truth is, your brain was never built to handle doing everything at once.
In fact, trying to split your attention across multiple tasks can actually reduce efficiency, increase errors, and elevate stress.
Monotasking, or focusing on one thing at a time, is gaining recognition as a healthier, more effective alternative to the overextended mental juggling act we’ve come to normalize.
The concept of monotasking is rooted in attention science.
While “multitasking” became a buzzword in the tech-driven 1960s to describe how computers operate, humans don’t work the same way.
Our brains are designed to focus deeply on one thing at a time, and when we don’t, our cognitive load increases, which can lead to mental fatigue, poor memory, and decreased performance.
This overload doesn’t just zap your brainpower.
It can spill into every area of your life—from reduced creativity and productivity at work to shallow connections with others and a constant feeling of being scattered.
It’s not surprising that when we try to be everywhere at once, we often end up feeling like we’re truly nowhere.
That’s where monotasking comes in.
Monotasking is not about doing less for the sake of it.
It’s about doing what matters, with your full attention, and doing it well.
When you monotask, you allow your brain to enter a flow state, a psychological phenomenon where time seems to slow down and productivity soars.
So how do you start building your monotasking muscle?
You begin small.
Dedicate 10 minutes to a single task—reading a page of a book, preparing a meal without checking your phone, or even taking a walk without earbuds or distractions.
These small practices help retrain your attention and bring awareness to how fragmented it may have become.
You might also benefit from time management techniques like the Pomodoro Method, which structures your day into focused blocks of work separated by intentional breaks.
According to Thatcher Wine, author of The Twelve Monotasks, core activities like reading, walking, or eating without digital interference are practical starting points for cultivating focus and presence.
Research has also shown that chronic multitasking can elevate stress levels, even altering the body’s physiological response to pressure.
A 2023 study on multitasking and stress found that frequent task-switching led to higher heart rate variability and slower recovery from stress, especially in professional environments .
This suggests that multitasking doesn’t just affect your focus—it could be taking a toll on your health.
By choosing to monotask, you are giving your brain the chance to fully engage, recover, and grow stronger.
Over time, this practice doesn’t just improve work performance—it can enhance your well-being, reduce anxiety, and deepen your relationships.
Monotasking won’t eliminate every distraction or demand.
But by becoming intentional with your attention, you begin to reclaim your time, your presence, and your peace.
Your brain—and your life—will be better for it.