Are Men Meant to Multitask?

Are Men Meant to Multitask?

No wonder why your wife gets so much done. Women tend to be better multitaskers than men, finds new research from the University of Glasgow.

In the study, guys reacted slower than ladies when they had to shuffle several challenges at once. But it's important to note that both sexes saw a considerable slowdown--which suggests tackling multiple tasks can be tough for everyone.

Art Markman, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, says multitasking is a quick way to do a subpar job  on many items at once. Instead of juggling your workload, the key is to eliminate distractions from your workday. Here's how:

1. Restructure Your Day
Stop checking your email first thing in the morning, Markman says. Instead, use the first hour of the day for tasks that require unbroken concentration, before all the messages clog your inbox.

2. Turn off Gchat
Five deadlines to meet by noon? Make it easier on yourself by cutting out unnecessary time-sucks--like Google Talk. "Instant messaging programs are the bane of people's existence," Markman says. (In fact, even a 2.8-second moment of distraction can lead to mistakes, according to a new study from Michigan State University.) Laura Stack, author of What to Do When There's Too Much to Do, suggests adjusting your notifications to only alert you of messages from important people like your boss.

3. Mute Noisy Neighbors
Shut your office door, move to the conference room, or wear headphones to tune out the office chatterbox. "We're hugely influenced by our surroundings," Markman says. You don't have to be a total hermit--post a friendly sign on your door that says "on deadline" so you can work in peace, then remove it when you're ready to gab again. 

4. Plan Ahead
Every night after work, jot down the main goals you need to complete the following day. Break down each task into its component parts, so that you know specifically what you need to do for each one, and how to prioritize each portion. To keep track of it all, download the task-listing app Clear ($1.99 for iOS) to both your smartphone and your computer. It's a simple cloud-based way to keep track of your to-do list, whether you're at work or out and about.

Additional research by Kenny Thapoung

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