Multitasking in IT: Why Focus Wins

In IT, it’s tempting to juggle a dozen priorities at once — tickets, meetings, incident response, and project deadlines. But constant multitasking drains your energy, lowers quality, and can lead to burnout.

Focus Wins!

Multitasking in IT: Why Focus Wins

We don’t really multitask — we task switch. Every switch costs focus time. In IT, that can mean missed details, slower fixes, and more stress.

Focus on One Thing at a Time

Whenever possible:

• Batch work: Group similar tasks and check email at set times.

• Use priorities: Do urgent, high-impact work first.

• Block deep work: Protect focus time for coding, troubleshooting, or design.

Manage Your Meetings

A heavy meeting schedule kills productivity. Learn to:

• Decide what’s essential: Be present for must-have discussions but skip meetings where your input isn’t critical.

• Ask to give status async: Provide updates via chat or email so you can stay focused.

• Request permission to step out: Most managers will support you if you explain you have deliverables due.

Speak Up About Workload

Don’t suffer in silence — communicate with your manager:

• Share capacity: Show what’s on your plate when priorities conflict.

• Negotiate deadlines: Most PMs prefer adjusted timelines over poor quality.

• Clarify priorities: Ask, “Which of these should I finish first?”

Build a Sustainable Pace

Focused work leads to better outcomes — fewer mistakes, faster resolutions, and less stress. Protecting your time and energy helps you stay engaged and deliver long-term value.

Call to Action

Want help creating a system to manage focus, meetings, and workload? Book a strategy session and let’s build a plan that works for you.