Five ways to multitask at the workplace

With bigger workloads, tighter deadlines and more pressure, the temptation to pack in as many
tasks as possible is hard to resist. But juggling too many things at once can lead to more
mistakes and stress, along with loss of productivity.


Get Organized
"Make a list of the things that you need to accomplish," says Sangeeta Lala, senior
VP,TeamLease Services. "With so much technology at one's fingertips, it's become easier. One
should use these gadgets to schedule tasks," she says.


Prioritise your Tasks
List the tasks you need to get done and classify them in order of importance, impending
deadlines and the like. Also learn to recognize when a particular task is so important that you
need to put multitasking on hold and give it your undivided attention.


Don't Procrastinate
As your responsibilities increase, you need to resist procrastination. "If you have an agenda, plan
early and address it as soon as possible. Otherwise if you keep tasks on hold, they tend to pile
up, affecting the quality of your work," says Team Lease Services' Lala.


Eliminate Distractions
Resist the urge to peek at your blinking smart phone or answering your email when you're
working on something. Keep those tasks for later and don't let them waste your time.


Don't Over commit
Multitasking has its advantages, but don't take on too much or set yourself unrealistic targets. "It's
all very well to impress your bosses but don't end up becoming a victim of burnout," says Vijay
Anand Menon, associate director at RAMPgreen Solutions, provider of cloud-based call centre
solutions.