As a mompreneur, it often feels like you’re expected to do everything at once. Between running a business, managing a household, and caring for your family, the temptation to multitask is strong. You might try to respond to emails while cooking dinner or schedule social media posts while helping your kids with homework. But as efficient as multitasking may seem, it’s likely undermining your productivity and focus. Cal Newport’s book Deep Work sheds light on why multitasking isn’t helping you and how focusing on one task at a time can transform your business.

The Multitasking Myth

Many of us believe that multitasking helps us get more done. We’ve been led to think that handling multiple tasks simultaneously will save time and boost productivity. In reality, research shows that multitasking actually reduces efficiency and increases the likelihood of mistakes. The reason? Our brains aren’t wired to handle multiple high-level tasks at once.

When you try to multitask, your brain has to switch between different activities. This constant mental shifting leads to what’s called “attention residue,” where part of your mind remains focused on the previous task. This split focus means it takes longer to complete tasks, and the quality of your work suffers.

Insights from Deep Work

In Deep Work, Cal Newport argues that true productivity comes from focused, undistracted work. According to Newport, multitasking prevents us from engaging in deep work, which is the ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks. This type of work is essential for producing high-quality results and making meaningful progress in your business.

For mom entrepreneurs, the concept of deep work is especially relevant. You often have limited time, so it’s critical to make the most of the hours you do have. Multitasking leads to fragmented attention, preventing you from achieving the kind of deep focus that drives real business growth. On the other hand, dedicating uninterrupted blocks of time to a single task allows you to enter a state of deep concentration, where you can think more creatively, solve problems, and complete tasks faster.

Why Multitasking Hurts Your Business

1. Reduces Efficiency:
   Every time you switch tasks—whether from answering a client’s email to checking your social media feed—it takes your brain time to readjust. This constant switching not only wastes time but also reduces the quality of your work. For a mom entrepreneur juggling business and family, this time loss adds up quickly.
2. Increases Stress:
   Multitasking often creates the illusion of being busy, but in reality, it contributes to burnout. The constant mental switching leaves you feeling drained without making significant progress. By focusing on one task at a time, you reduce the mental load and experience less stress.
3. Prevents Deep Thinking:
   Many business tasks require deep thinking—whether it’s planning your marketing strategy, writing content, or analyzing financials. Multitasking keeps you at the surface level of your work, never giving you the opportunity to dive deep and think strategically. In contrast, focusing on one task at a time enables you to engage with the work on a deeper level and produce higher-quality results.

How to Break Free from Multitasking

For many moms, multitasking is a habit born out of necessity. However, breaking this habit can lead to significant improvements in your productivity and well-being. Here are a few strategies inspired by Deep Work to help you shift away from multitasking:

1. Time Blocking:
   One way to combat multitasking is by using time blocks. Dedicate specific blocks of time to focus on a single type of task, such as content creation, client communication, or financial management. During these blocks, eliminate distractions and focus solely on the task at hand. This helps you achieve the deep focus Newport advocates for, allowing you to complete tasks more efficiently.
2. Set Boundaries:
   As a mompreneur, setting boundaries is essential. Let your family know when you need uninterrupted time to work, and schedule personal and household tasks outside of these work blocks. This helps create a clear separation between work and home life, reducing the temptation to multitask.
3. Prioritize Your Tasks:
   Not all tasks require deep focus. Identify which tasks in your business need your full attention and prioritize those during your most productive hours. Save less demanding tasks for times when you have lower energy, like responding to emails or organizing files.

The TL/DR:

Multitasking might feel like a necessity when you’re balancing business and family life, but it’s doing more harm than good. As Cal Newport explains in Deep Work, real productivity comes from focused, uninterrupted work. By breaking free from the multitasking trap and embracing deep work, you can manage your business more effectively, reduce stress, and create the mental space needed to truly thrive as a mompreneur.

Want to read more mompreneur-focused content? Check out these previous blog posts and workshops:

Blog Post: WAHMing (Work at Home Mom-ing) this Summer? Tips From Our Mom + Biz Owners!

Blog Post: The Value of Co-Working

Video Workshop: Creative Mindfulness for Mom Entrepreneurs