How to Get More Done WITHOUT Falling for the Multitasking Trap
We all know the feeling: your to-do list is overflowing, and you don’t even know where to start. So you try to do everything at once. That’s when the real trouble begins. You end up doing things badly, forgetting steps, and rarely finishing anything properly.
I’ve been there myself. Recently, I set myself a challenge: build three apps over a single weekend. Instead of tackling them one by one, I tried to work on all three at the same time. Halfway through, I caught myself and thought, “Pierre, what are you doing?” The result? None of the apps were finished to my satisfaction, and I was left with a mess of half-baked ideas and lingering bugs.
This isn’t just my problem. I see it everywhere. Even my girlfriend, who is much better at focusing than I am, always insists on finishing one thing before starting another. She’s right. Why think about the next task when you haven’t finished the one in front of you? She’s more present, more grounded in the moment. I’m still working on it, but I’ve improved a lot.
The lesson is simple: do one thing at a time. If you set out to build three apps, don’t even think about the second until the first is truly done. It’s better to do one thing excellently than three things poorly. The same goes for any project. Why create a product that tries to do everything but does it all badly? It’s better to have something incomplete but perfect, rather than something complete but flawed.
This mindset applies to everything you create. For example, I was building an app to make YouTube thumbnails. I ran into some problems, but instead of fixing them, I jumped to the next app. By the end of the weekend, I had two unfinished projects and unresolved issues. I promised myself: this can’t happen again. I’m writing it into my own personal “constitution”—a rule I refuse to break.
Making these promises to yourself is powerful. It helps you improve, grow, and become a better version of yourself. So ask yourself: what can you do better? What haven’t you mastered yet? There’s always room for improvement, no matter how much progress you’ve made. The challenge never ends, but that’s what makes it interesting.
I like to think of my hero as myself in ten years. That’s my vision. My hero is me, ten years from now, always moving forward. I don’t compare myself to others. I compare myself to my future self, because I know that person will be amazing. So what can I do today to get closer to that hero? That’s the real question.
“Don’t compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to the person you were yesterday.”
— Jordan Peterson
The best time to start is now. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it never comes. There will always be unexpected problems, always something missing. If you keep waiting, you’ll just end up with less time and more excuses. Make a little time, invest a little in yourself, and start something big—but start with just one thing.
Key Takeaways
- Multitasking leads to poor results and unfinished work.
- Focus on one thing at a time for better quality and satisfaction.
- Promise yourself to improve and stick to it.
- Compare yourself to your future self, not others.
- The best time to start is now.
Action Steps
- Pick one task and finish it before starting another.
- Write down a personal rule to avoid multitasking.
- Reflect on what you can improve today.
Reflection
- What’s the one thing you can do right now to move closer to your future self?
- Are you spreading yourself too thin by trying to do too much at once?
Pierre-Henry Soria
#Focus #Money #Multitasking #Productivity #Tasks #Time-Management #Wealth #Work Efficiency