… Not Multi-Mode: A Guide to Finding Momentum Without Chaos
We live in a culture that glorifies multitasking. You know the feeling—plates spinning, laundry tumbling, notifications buzzing. It’s easy to believe that doing all the things, all at once will help us stay on top of life. But the reality? Constant multitasking usually leaves us feeling more behind, not ahead.
When we multitask every moment of the day, our attention is split. And what we give our attention to is what grows. The problem is, splitting our focus creates an emptiness in between tasks—a chaotic swirl where we’re not truly present with anything. Instead of finding satisfaction, we run for cover, craving an escape from the constant noise.
There are moments where multitasking works, but living in multi-mode 24/7 often leaves us spinning. And let’s be honest—it’s rarely an upward spiral.
The Laundry Myth: Why Doing It Every Day Can Leave You Stuck
A friend recently shared that she feels like she has to do laundry every day; otherwise, she’ll fall behind. At first, it made sense. After all, the laundry piles don’t wait for anyone, right? But when we dug deeper, it became clear that doing laundry every single day wasn’t actually helping her stay ahead. It was distracting her from more meaningful progress in other areas.
Think about it. When was the last time you had to rewash a load of clothes because it sat in the washer for a couple of days? You forgot it, it got funky, and there you were—adding another layer to your to-do list. This kind of thing happens when we’re spinning too many plates at once, every single day.
The result? Chaos. Sluggish momentum. Feeling like you’re constantly trying to catch up but never quite making it. Especially if we are measuring progress with laundry piles.
A Challenge for This Week: Theme Your Days
Here’s a little experiment:
What if, instead of doing laundry every single day, you dedicated one or two days to it? You could make laundry, or a similar task-load, the theme of those days and get it all done at once. The other 5 or 6 days would be blissfully laundry-free, leaving space for other priorities—and maybe even a little freedom.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not.
Batching your tasks (instead of spreading them thin) allows you to be fully present and more productive. Plus, it helps reduce that nagging, grindy feeling of never being done.
What Can You Do While Laundry is Running?
Now, multitasking can work—if it’s done in the right pockets of time. The key is pairing tasks that naturally complement each other. For example, while the laundry is spinning, you might:
- Prep meals for the week
- Work on a puzzle
- Respond to emails
- Enjoy a quiet cup of tea
- Place an online order
- Call your grandma (she’ll love it)
- Finally call back that life insurance guy
These are tasks that can handle interruptions. They don’t require your full, undivided attention, so you can stack them with a larger task like laundry without losing your intended momentum.
But here’s where we need to be mindful: Not all tasks belong together. Trying to clean out your closet while simultaneously doing laundry will probably result in one thing—another rewash cycle. I’ve been there. Done that.
Make Your Lists Work for You
Another friend recently gave me a notepad with two columns labeled “Pants Required” and “Pants Optional.” It made me laugh, but it also got me thinking. We, too, can divide our to-do lists into categories that make sense for how we live.
Instead of trying to conquer everything at once, maybe your list could be split into Projects and To-Dos. Projects are bigger, more focused tasks that need your full attention. To-dos are the smaller, quicker things that can be sprinkled into your day.
The beauty of this approach is that you get to decide the rules. Your lists are what your life and mission can find calmness in, getting through them doesn’t have to feel like chaos.
How Multitasking Can Build Momentum or Derail Progress
At its best, multitasking can help us keep moving forward. When we layer the right tasks together, it creates a rhythm that feels energizing. But at its worst, multitasking can leave us feeling stuck and overwhelmed. The difference lies in the kind of tasks we choose to pair.
Here’s a pro-tip: Multitask with intention, not out of desperation.
Ask yourself:
- Is this a task that can handle interruptions?
- Can I batch this with something else for efficiency?
- Am I spinning plates just for the sake of feeling busy, or am I building real momentum?
By getting clear on these questions, you’ll start to see where multitasking is serving you—and where it’s holding you back.
This Week, You’re in Charge
Friend, today you get to choose. You can decide to do that one thing or a bunch of little things. You get to set the tone for your day. Keep your lists close, but your sanity closer.
Let this be the week you embrace momentum and calm. Theme your days. Batch your tasks. Build a rhythm that feels light, productive, and—dare I say it—fun.
And if you forget a load of laundry in the washer, don’t sweat it. Just hit rewash, and get back to the things that matter most.
You’ve got this.
And if that didn’t boost you quite enough, try this Focus Binder Map we walk through in our guided planning sessions.
