The Mom Myth of Multitasking: How to get more done by doing less
Picture this: you’re stirring spaghetti sauce with one hand, answering a text with the other, and shouting down the hallway for your kids to please stop fighting. Three things at once. You’re hustling, moving, “productive”… right?
Not exactly.
Multitasking feels like a badge of honor in mom life. We joke about it, we wear it like a survival skill, and sometimes it even looks impressive. But truthfully, multitasking doesn’t actually make us more productive. It makes us scattered, stressed, and more likely to drop the ball.
I remember saying that once to an interviewer. He was shocked. I got the job. 😉
So let’s bust the myth once and for all.
Why Multitasking Feels Productive (But Isn’t)
Our brains are not wired to fully focus on two things at once. What we’re really doing is “task switching”—rapidly jumping back and forth between activities. Every switch costs the brain energy, focus, and patience. Not to mention time lost. It does the exact opposite of what we believe we are doing.
So when you’re helping your child with homework while checking your email while thinking about dinner, your brain is burning fuel like a car stuck in traffic. Busy, yes. Efficient, no. It’s the busy-ness that makes us feel falsely productive in that moment. Later we look back and don’t see the results we wanted…plus, we are exhausted.
It’s not just about dropping details (like forgetting you left the laundry in the washer again). Multitasking has deeper costs:
Shorter patience: Snapping at your kids because your brain feels maxed out.
Lower productivity: Everything takes longer than if you just did one thing.
Increased stress: That buzzing, frantic energy that makes you feel like you’re always behind.
And maybe the biggest cost? You never get the satisfaction of being fully present—either with your kids or with yourself.
The Power of Single-Tasking
Here’s the good news: the opposite of multitasking isn’t boring or slow. It’s actually powerful.
When you single-task, you give your full attention to one thing. Your brain settles in, gets it done, and moves on with less stress and more peace. You feel calmer. You actually accomplish more. And your kids notice the difference too.
Simple Strategies to Try
You don’t need a retreat in the woods to single-task. Try these small shifts in your everyday life:
Use focus windows: Set a timer for 10–15 minutes and give your full attention to one thing—whether it’s folding laundry, playing with your kids, or writing an email.
Involve the kids: “For the next 10 minutes, we’re all going to do one thing quietly.” The one thing can be whatever you need done right then - if you need to be at the computer, the kids can read; if you need to pack lunches for tomorrow, they can join you and everyone is working together. Kids actually rise to the challenge more often than we expect.
Stack smartly: Some tasks do pair well together—like listening to an audiobook while cleaning. That’s not multitasking; that’s stacking. I like to walk with one kid; I get exercise and can mentor them one-on-one while they feel like they’re getting my full attention. Choose wisely.
Final Thought
You don’t need to do more at once—you need to do less, better.
When you slow down enough to give your attention fully, you’ll discover more peace in your day, better connection with your kids, and a surprising sense of accomplishment. Time even seems to slow down for me when I am fully present in each task.
So here’s your challenge: pick one thing today and give it your full attention. Let yourself feel what it’s like to be present and productive without the chaos of multitasking.
Because you’re not just managing tasks—you’re shaping the tone of your whole home.
