Do you know people who seem so productive that you ever wonder if they ever get to sleep at all? These people go to school on time and never miss a day, have a steady part-time job, are involved in volunteer projects every week, are active in sports activities, and have a full social calendar to boot. Do you ever wonder how they do it?

Well, having no gaps in one’s daily schedule means productivity levels are off the scale. Multitasking is indeed a skill that is to be admired, but sometimes there is such a thing as taking on too much. As such, below are tips for multitasking so you can avoid a crash and burn.

Make a things-to-do list.

It may sound old-fashioned, but it is one trick that will never fail you. If you make a list of your things to do, it will give your mind more clarity and actually make you more prepared and ready to take on the tasks at hand. If you don’t want to write with a pen and paper, then go use your smartphone or tablet. You can even find apps that give alarm sounds when it’s actually time to do the task.

Prioritize and sacrifice.

There are times when you want to do it all, but you will come to realize that Time won’t allow you to do it all. During these times, learn to prioritize and sacrifice. For instance, you are expected to turn in a school assignment by end of the week, and you have not done anything yet because you’ve put in extra hours of work in your part-time job. Unfortunately, your friends are inviting you to go at a pool party for the weekend. What to do? In this case, prioritize and sacrifice. You don’t want to end up with a big fat zero for your assignment, so explain to your friends that you will be taking a rain check for the time being.

Focus.

There will come a time when one aspect of your life will need more attention than the others. For instance, if your mom will be having surgery on the weekend, and you’re the only family member who can be there for her while she recuperates, take the time to focus on giving her the care she needs. Focusing on this task means you are giving it 100 percent effort.

Take your time.

Multitasking does not mean you have the right to do things halfheartedly. If you feel you need more time to complete the school assignment, take more time to do it rather than forcing yourself to speed things up so that you can move on to the next task at hand. Always remember the saying “jack of all trades but master of none.” You certainly don’t want to be a master of none.

Juggling multiple tasks at the same time may sound easy, but it does take a lot of skill and discipline. Always remember though that you are not a superhuman. Accept your strengths and weaknesses as they are and always do your best in every task that comes your way.

SOURCES:

http://lifestyle.allwomenstalk.com/tips-for-better-multitasking

http://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/Dont-Maximize-Your-Multitasking-Opt

http://99u.com/articles/7135/layering-multitasking-that-actually-works