Avoiding burnout: Tips from a multitasker extraordinaire

As an author, entrepreneur and part-time student, Omar Al Busaidy is certainly a busy man. When he’s not managing W Gents Salon, which he co-founded, the Emirati is busy studying for a postgraduate degree in “Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership” at Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University. As if that doesn’t take up enough time already, he’s also just released a book, an entrepreneurial guide to self-development called Just Read It.

So when it comes to juggling multiple roles, what are the best ways to multitask without getting overwhelmed? We turned to Omar for his best tips:

LISTS WORK

“Writing down tasks and the time needed to accomplish them is the key to staying focused and managing your time right,” Omar said. “Fortunately, not everything you are working on at a given time will have the same deadline.

“Pick tasks that can be done at the same time, and rank them by priority. This will give you a better understanding on how to perform multitasking without losing a track and overloading your brain.”

TOGGLE, BUT DON’T GET CARRIED AWAY

While most of us multitask on a daily basis, Omar said that the key is to focus your full attention on the task in front of you at any given time.

“Switching [between] many tasks without finishing them will drain energy and most probably waste precious time. It is ideal to toggle between two similar tasks and finish them before getting to the next few.”

IT’S OKAY; SOME THINGS WILL NEED FULL FOCUS

“Some things require complete attention,” Omar continued. “When you start doing a lot of multitasking, it can be difficult to understand that there are some things that need your full focus. It is important to recognise them and find an efficient way to fit them in your busy schedule.”

“Sort out your tasks to know which ones are best done separately. Multitasking is not a panacea.”

AND FINALLY, DON’T FORGET TO TAKE BREAKS

The entrepreneur also emphasizes the importance of switching off. “Giving your mind a rest from the stresses of the day should not be neglected,” he said in conclusion. “Many people don’t realise the toll of stress and burnout on their health and performance until it is too late.”

“Using break time to clear your head is essential to outwork and function well. If you really can’t afford a break in your day, then simply close your eyes and meditate for a couple of minutes. Breaks are particularly re-energizing and helpful when trying to get better concentration.”