Why Multitasking Is Failing Busy Moms (And What Works Instead)
Nov 18, 2025
Today, we’re talking about something that can radically change how you work, how you parent, and how you live: the power of staying in the moment.
Back in the 1990s, multitasking was all the rage. Productivity gurus swore it was the golden ticket to success. The advice was everywhere: keep multiple browser windows open, return phone calls while firing off emails, juggle spreadsheets while supervising homework. The promise was intoxicating: do more in less time and create endless hours of freedom.
But let’s be honest—did that free time ever actually show up?
The truth is, multitasking has been exposed for what it really is: a myth that drains us. Neuroscientist John Medina put it bluntly: “The brain cannot multitask. We are biologically incapable of processing attention-rich inputs simultaneously.” What we call multitasking is actually “switch-tasking”—jumping rapidly from one task to another, leaving behind mistakes, wasted energy, and mental fatigue.
Why Focus Matters Even More for Busy Women
If you’re a physician or executive mom, the stakes are higher. Your calendar is already bursting at the seams—patient charts, investor calls, board meetings, after-school pickups, bedtime routines, and maybe a late-night load of laundry. Trying to juggle all of it at once doesn’t just hurt your productivity. It risks burnout, overwhelm, and even dangerous errors.
One of my clients—a senior biotech executive and mom of two—once prided herself on her multitasking skills. She kept three screens open at her desk, while simultaneously answering Slack messages and explaining fractions to her daughter. On paper, it looked impressive. But in reality? Her deadlines slipped, her daughter felt brushed aside, and she ended every night with the crushing feeling that she was failing at everything.
The turning point came when she tried something radical: single-tasking.
She gave her full attention to one thing at a time. Reviewing contracts with no Slack notifications. Helping her daughter with math without glancing at her phone. The shift was dramatic. Her work became sharper, her team noticed fewer mistakes, and her evenings with her kids finally felt like family time.
As Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, reminds us: “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.”
The Power of Presence
One of the oldest lessons comes from carpentry: “Measure twice, cut once.”
A carpenter doesn’t rush. They measure, pause, then measure again before cutting. Why? Because distraction costs. A wandering mind can lead to wasted materials—or worse, a smashed thumb.
The same is true for our daily lives. If you’re finishing a patient note while your mind is already racing to dinner plans, you risk mistakes that double your workload later.
Presence—the ability to give your full attention to what’s right in front of you—isn’t just a productivity hack. It’s a mindset shift.
Three Practical Shifts to Boost Productivity Now
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Single-Task Like a Surgeon
Think about it: in the OR, you don’t check your email mid-procedure. You give your patient 100% of your attention. What if you treated your entire calendar the same way? Block time for one task, finish it, and then move to the next. -
Use Micro-Presence Moments
Leadership coach Juliet Funt talks about “white space”—the breathing room between tasks. It could be the two minutes before a meeting starts, or the moment you pull into the driveway. Instead of filling that space with noise, pause. Take a breath. Reset. -
Ask the Focus Question
Borrow a strategy from Gary Keller’s The One Thing: “What’s the one thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” Asking this question instantly brings your mind back to what matters most.
The Payoff: Better Outcomes in Every Area
Here’s the magic: when you stop scattering your energy across dozens of tasks, your productivity soars. Your work becomes more accurate, your parenting feels lighter, and your decision-making gets sharper.
But here’s the bigger truth: staying in the moment isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing the right things with your full attention.
One of my physician clients shared that by focusing solely on charting during protected time instead of sneaking it in while distracted, she finished faster, made fewer errors, and finally got home on time for dinner. Another executive client said that turning off notifications during family meals transformed those 30 minutes into the most meaningful part of her day.
The result? More productivity. Better outcomes. And a calmer mind.
A Challenge for You This Week
Think of one area of your life where you’ve been multitasking yourself into chaos. Maybe it’s charting while your kids are talking to you. Maybe it’s trying to answer emails while sitting in a meeting.
Here’s your challenge: Stop. Pick one thing. Be all in.
You’ll notice something powerful: the calm that comes with focus. The relief of presence. And the productivity boost that happens naturally when you give yourself permission to do one thing at a time.
Because your past is behind you. Your future is uncertain. But this moment? This is where life—and your best outcomes—happen.
Calling all remarkable women physicians and single moms!
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