I am working on a long-term project at work right now. There are many pieces, many people, and many contingencies in place. I was at the place where I needed to put together a proposal to take the next step in this process. As an introvert, I love thinking and I love ideas and concepts. Putting something together like this can be very enjoyable. Also as an introvert, I have a need for some quiet and focused time for longer tasks and projects like this one. I work in an environment with constant interruptions, with in-person visits, phone calls, and constant emails. I enjoy the work I do and like the people I interact with, but I have learned that multitasking is not effective in getting projects done and moving things forward. The truth is that multitasking is a myth. We can really only do ONE thing at a time. When we are trying to do more than one thing at a time we are switching between tasks and are usually not doing it very effectively. When we are starting and stopping, we end up spending more time trying to remember where we left off and getting back into the groove. It’s so much better if we can find some time to focus on one thing at a time. Of course, this will not always be possible, but we should work some time to focus into each day, especially when it comes to longer-term projects.
I live by my calendar. If something is not on my calendar it will probably not happen. I have meetings every day, and while I am in these meetings I am not getting work done and I seem to get more work to do. Sometimes my meetings are planned far in advance and sometimes they appear in my calendar with just a few days’ notice or sometimes with no notice at all.
So how can I get projects done with so many meetings and constant interruptions? Recently I have started to employ a method called time chunking. Time chunking is looking at my day in chunks. I have spent so much time in the past trying to do everything at once and often failed at getting anything accomplished using this method. Now at the end of the week, I review my week and my tasks and projects that I need to do and think where I should chunk my time. I look at my three or so most important projects and block off some “chunks” for a couple of hours (of the amount of time needed) on my calendar for each task. During this time I close my door and try to block out other distractions. I let the others around me know that I am working on a project and that I am unavailable for a time. I don’t answer the phone and try not to pay attention to my emails.
The email is probably the hardest. It is best to close it, but often in my case, the information I need for the project I am working on is in there. So it can be a challenge to be in your inbox and then disregard the message you just received. It may be important. I sometimes combat this by copying and pasting the information I need from my email into another document so I can actually close my email. As responding to emails is an important part of work, you may consider a couple or so times a day to chunk times just to work through your email. Sometimes we have to change the culture and expectations of those around us. Have you ever had someone pop into your office and ask “did you get my email?” when they sent it 30 seconds ago? It’s as if you should be watching your email every second. It is very difficult to get work done this way when you are watching the emails come in and responding. I do try to respond to emails quickly, but I let those around me know that if they have something urgent to instant message or text me.
We all have a lot of work to do. Both big and small tasks are important. I have tried to do everything at once, but usually, things don’t all get done this way. By setting aside time for some big projects and some for small in chunks you can be more effective and efficient. With my current project, I took a couple of hours and closed the door and let my introverted mind do its work. I analyzed some data, did some research, and put my ideas out in an aesthetically pleasing format. I love putting together the “puzzle pieces” of projects such as this, and when I had completed development of my proposal to share with my team it felt amazing.
If you are an introvert who sometimes finds it hard to complete tasks, look at what is distracting you and find a way to chunk your time, blocking out those things that are keeping you from focusing, and getting that project finished. You’ll be so glad you did!
David Hall, M.Ed. is a speaker, author, and host of the Quiet and Strong Podcast, where he interviews thought leaders, creatives, and professionals who help introverts thrive. With over 25 years in higher education, David has led workshops, trainings, and presentations on productivity, personality, and introversion. His mission is to help introverts honor their needs, understand their strengths, and succeed on their own terms. He is the author of Minding Your Time: Time Management, Productivity, and Success, Especially for Introverts and a passionate advocate for creating work environments where introverts can do their best work.
