Confession.
On Thursday, I caught myself doing exactly the opposite of what I teach.
I was on a Zoom call, answering emails, half-listening, and…
…Making a grocery list. (preparing for the ice storm!)
I remember thinking, “Look at me, I’m being so efficient.”
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The call ended.
I wasn’t totally sure what had been decided.
I sent an email that I had to follow up on later.
And I still forgot the one thing I actually needed from the grocery store.
Busy? Yes.
Effective? Not even close.
You and I?
We aren’t distracted because we don’t care.
We’re distracted because we’re trying to keep up.
Trying to be responsive.
That’s why uni-tasking (staying focused on ONE thing at a time) sounds nice…Yet it’s SO. Dang. Hard.
But here’s one thing I know for sure.
Uni-tasking is absolutely learnable. Here’s how.
#1: Decide the exact task before you start
Distraction usually starts before you even begin.
You sit down to work, open your laptop, and then your brain asks, “Okay, what should we do first?”
That question alone invites emails, messages, and random tasks.
Uni-tasking starts with a clear decision.
Not “work on the project.”
But “write the first three sections of the project.”
Not “catch up on email.”
But “respond to the two messages that need an answer today.”
Clear tasks are easier to focus on.
Vague tasks feel open-ended, and your brain tries to escape them.
Before you start, name the ONE SPECIFIC thing you’ll work on.
Write it down. Say it to yourself.
Tattoo it to your forehead.
(Okay, don’t do that. Just seeing if you were paying attention.) 😉
#2: Choose a short, realistic time block
Uni-tasking doesn’t require hours of quiet time.
In fact, choosing a short block is your best bet.
Ten minutes is great. Twenty or thirty works too.
Set a timer and decide that for this window, “I’m staying with the task.”
- You’re not switching.
- You’re not checking one quick thing. (You’re not fooling anyone.)
You’re simply working on what you chose.
At first, this can feel uncomfortable.
Your brain is used to jumping around. That’s normal.
But something interesting happens when the time is clear and limited.
Resistance drops. Focus improves.
And often, momentum kicks in.
When the timer ends, you get to decide what’s next.
#3: Nix Your Distractions
This part matters more than people think.
Guess what will happen if your phone is next to you?
You’ll look at it!
If email is open?
You’ll check it!
If notifications are on?
You’ll look at them!
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Last I checked, you’re human.
And you do human things like react and respond.
So, make a few simple changes before you start.
- Put your phone out of reach.
- Close the tabs you don’t need.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb.
- Silence notifications that aren’t urgent.
You will survive. In fact, you will thrive.
But don’t listen to me.
Try it for three short periods today and see how much your focus improves.
The Bottom Line
Uni-tasking is totally doable.
Even if focus feels hard right now, you can get better starting today.
Follow the steps:
One clear task.
One short focus window.
One supportive environment.
That’s how uni-tasking becomes real.
And you finally, actually, stay focused.
Best,
Mridu
PS. If you or your team are constantly distracted, we should talk.
1) Learn about team training here.
2) Explore one-to-one coaching here.
PPS. A personal note. I’m so excited to be selected to speak at TEDx in March. I’m gonna have to put uni-tasking to the max to be ready!
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