What is monotasking? Simply put, it's the art of carrying out one task at a time.

Why everyone should be doing it... The antithesis of multitasking, monotasking helps improve your memory, cut down on errors, and increase your productivity. And if that isn't enough to convince you, monotasking can also make your work feel more enjoyable.  

...Except for these people. Like Mensa, only 2% of the population are true multitaskers, or 'supertaskers.' For these lucky few, their performance doesn't suffer when they do different things simultaneously - it sometimes gets better. For most of us though, our brain can't handle the overload. Take the test to find out where you stand.

5 Steps to Monotasking

1. Identify your problem area(s). If you've become overwhelmed by the mania brought on by multitasking, start by identifying the biggest culprits in your life. Are you constantly checking your smartphone/email/social media throughout the day? Easily distracted by office conversations for FOMO? Working on one thing while thinking about another?   

2. Set your priorities. Set up blocks of time for the things you need to get done, in order of importance, and stay on point. Schedule high priority tasks during your 'biological prime time' to make sure they're accomplished above all else. Add these tasks to your calendar and stick to it.

3. Guard your time like Jon Snow guarding the Wall. Minimize distractions by silencing your phone, turning off email alerts, and closing your door. Chatty office mates? Let them know you'll catch up with them at lunch. Give your full attention to the task at hand.

4. Take breaks. Give your brain some down time several times a day, even if it's only for a few minutes. If you can, grab some fresh air and a glass of water while you're at it. #doesabodygood

5. Reap the rewards. Monotasking is like taking a deep breathe. There's a calmness that comes with being more 'in the moment,' focused on one job at hand instead of trying to do everything at once. It'll feel so good, you may want to start finding other areas of your life to monotask as well.