10 Ways to Single Task

Single tasking is all about focusing on one task at a time with as few interruptions and distractions as possible - basically the opposite to multi-tasking. It's an interesting process to explore if you want to find ways to maximise your productivity and work flow. It's more of a minimalist approach to getting things done, and it focuses on the tasks that are most important and embracing life on your own terms. Today I thought I'd share 10 ways you can embrace single tasking in your work and day to day life, and start working smarter not harder....

One tab at a time Similar to the notion of single tasking, single tabbing is the process of only having one browser tab open at a time. Ever feel overwhelmed by the many tabs and pages open on your web browser? Try keeping it to just one at a time so you can truly engage with what you're reading/exploring.

Turn off your phone Throughout our workdays it can be hard to truly focus with our phone constantly reminding us of the other commitments in our life. If possible try switching your phone off, or at least putting it on silent so that you can truly focus on the task at hand.

The Pomodoro Technique Created in the 80's, it's a time management philosophy with a super simple process. Basically for every project and/or task throughout the day you focus on a single task for a certain time before taking a break - for example focusing on a task for 30 minutes and then taking a 5 minute break. Then you can adjust your time frames around your workflow, and the whole idea is to focus as long as your brain allows and build in breaks before you start to lull. You can find out more in depth here.

Turn off email alerts When you're trying to focus on one task at a time, having emails arriving in your inbox every ten minutes is a sure fire way to be distracted. By closing your inbox and only checking during breaks it means you can completely focus yourself on one task.

Switch off from social media Similar to switching off from emails, stepping away from social media for the day allows you to stay focused and in the moment with your work. With so many awesome links and stories shared online throughout the day, it's a great way to keep your browser tabs low as well.

Keep your desktop clutter free Nothing causes me more stress than a cluttered desktop, and throughout the week mine starts to pile up with documents and PDFs that just leave me with a work-induced headache. Keep things organised and in folders (that aren't on your desktop) so that you aren't distracted, or stressed out, throughout the day.

Focus on one thing at a time Obviously this is key to single tasking, but really focus on building into your routine focusing on one task at a time. Build your day into blocks where you focus on a certain project or work (the Pomodoro Technique is great for this) and see if single tasking is the way for you.

Build a focused to-do list One of the best ways to focus on one thing at a time is to build a focused to-do list each day. Start with the most important tasks and tackle them first (but one at a time) and build set tasks and timeframes to stick to throughout the day.

Avoid distractions We've mentioned switching off your phone and social media and email notifications, but if after this you're still struggling to avoid distractions you can find other ways to help you focus. Close your office door, turn of the TV, stay off the internet or put on some headphones with music that helps you focus - just find what works best for you.

If you have to interrupt your work, make sure you leave a starting off point Sometimes emails or personal emergencies can't be avoided, so something you can do to help you start back up again is leaving yourself a note or starting off point to help you get back on track quicker. Leave things organised and leave a little note of where you left off and any ideas of how you wanted to move forward.

Are you a fan of single tasking?

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Jen is a 22 year old freelance writer living in Manchester. The co-founder and editor of ALO, she edits our Beauty, Lifestyle and Culture & Entertainment sections. You can usually find her lost in a good book or listening to her favourite songs on repeat. She also runs the blog Jennypurr.