Multitasking is something we all do. We have so many things to do. And, we try to deepen the precious moments we have by doing multiple things at one time. When performers try to compete and think at the same time (multitask), it doesn’t typically work and doesn’t give them the best results.

What is multitasking

Multitasking is doing several things at the same time. People are rewarded for their ability to multitask because they think they can get more done but that’s not the reality. When we multitask, the truth is we are not focused on any one thing. Our attention is divided in several directions and doesn’t know what’s really important. Your brain attempts to switch back and forth between things but struggles to do it and nothing really gets done effectively.

The few moments when it does work

I would say that multitasking really never works but when we are doing simple tasks we can usually get through it fairly unscathed while trying to do several tasks. For example, pat your head and rub your belly while you walk. 😁 Or washing the dishes while having a conversation and cooking something on the stove.

Even in these situations, you have to be careful when you are not completely focused. You may break a glass while washing the dishes or burn something on the stove while washing the dishes and chatting with someone.

How does this translate to performers

Have you ever worked with a coach or teacher who was trying to change several different things at the same time? I’ll bet you were trying to focus on all of it at the same time and struggled to make change. Yep. Nothing is done effectively.

Above we talked about simple tasks however, you know that performance is no simple task. Whether you are serving point in a tennis match, or going for a touchdown, or looking for a double, or you are getting ready to perform in front of hundreds at the Symphony, your task is not a simple task.

I worked with a professional tennis player. We did some really good work together. She went from 652 to 129 and was feeling better about her mental tennis game. We developed her Beating the Demons System, or in other words, routines to take on the most stressful moments in performance. The system allows elite performers to think very little on the court. Then, she changed coaches and was told to remember seven to eight things on the court while she was playing. She struggled to focus and her performance declined again.

Practice vs competition

During practice there’s more brain space to work on several things but not at the same time. Practice is the time to think about mental and physical changes, make changes, make mistakes, and learn new things. Practice is where you develop your mental and physical muscle memory so that you can use your muscle memory during competition to just do it (not think about it).

Competition is where you take all the hard work you’ve done in practice and training and apply it (not think about it). There’s no time during competition to think about mental and physical changes, make changes, make mistakes, or learn new things. Why? Because you can’t work on it. You may get one attempt and when that doesn’t go well performance in general declines.

I always say to clients, why spend all that time and energy practicing if you aren’t going to allow your practice to show up and do its thing?

The multitasking chain

When you think about what you need to do before and during competition, you can get wrapped up in doubt, nerves, fear, and negativity.  How can you possibly perform well?

Thinking leads to increased heart rate, muscle tension and decreased range of motion. Your energy is pulled in so many directions, your performance takes a back seat. Similar to the above examples, this kind of multitasking pulls you out of your ability to perform optimally.

Being present

With so many things going on in your world, you cannot be present 24/7. But you can learn how to be present and focused on one thing at certain moments. For performers, this means recognizing when you are in your head and bringing your focus back to what you are there to do – perform and perform well.

I do quite a bit of mindfulness work and there’s something so amazing about being able to learn when you’ve lost your focus and regain it. We are so caught up in places that don’t need our attention or need our attention in that moment. When you learn to recognize that is happening and course correct, it is an amazing feeling.

We are socialized to multitask but you can have more control to be more present and focused. The present (the here and now) is where you most optimally act and respond to all situations in a performance.