43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

43F Podcast: The Myth of Multi-tasking

The Myth of Multi-tasking (mp3)

43Folders.com - "Multi-taskers" are really just splitting their time and attention into smaller slices than you; no one can really do more than one thing at a time. (2:34)


powered by ODEO

Subscribe to the 43 Folders Podcast on Odeo.com Subscribe to the 43 Folders podcast in iTunes

Merlin's picture

Meh. I think that’s more...

Meh. I think that’s more than semantics if you catch what I was trying to say.

Maybe I have “Alan Watts on the Brain,” but you’re not actually transitively cooking if you’re doing the dishes. Lots of things we’ve caused to happen in the world are going on at one time; that doesn’t mean we’re “doing them” all the time they’re happening someplace.

I don’t doubt for a second that people can get more done with more efficiency by starting one plate spinning then running to the next (I do stuff like that too). I just need to get a message to overwrought people that the inability to really do five things at once is not a form of retardation--it’s simply being human. And away melts the irrational guilt that you aren't actually "Hal."

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

Popular
Today

Popular
Classics

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


STAY IN THE LOOP:

Subscribe with Google Reader

Subscribe on Netvibes

Add to Technorati Favorites

Subscribe on Pageflakes

Add RSS feed

The Podcast Feed

Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »