The Twelve Monotasks

Neurological research definitively and repeatedly concludes that there is a bottleneck in our cognitive function - when we do more than one thing at a time, we become less efficient and more error-prone. Our systems get overloaded and we crash. In fact, we are actually wired to monotask - to give dedicated focus to one task at a time.

Whether you call it monotasking, mindfulness, being present, or any other name, the goal is the same: Give your focus to one thing at a time and do it with your all. When we do things with our full focus, completely tuning our bodies and our brains in to one activity-like reading a book, listening to someone in a conversation, or paying attention to our surroundings while we go for a walk - amazing things can happen.

Drawing on research in cognitive science, neuroscience, and mindfulness, The Twelve Monotasks shows that by concentrating on twelve everyday activities and approaching them with a focused mindset, we can rebuild and expand our attention spans. When we focus on what we are doing, where we are and who we are with, we can rediscover our ability to enjoy life, connect with others, and succeed in all that we do. And in the end, it makes us happier, more productive, and more present - in all aspects of our lives.

Relinquishing our engagement with multiple goals and dedicating our attention to a specific task rewards us with increased productivity and a markedly reduced sense of stress. By enhancing our monotasking skills we can more deeply experience and benefit from the most fundamental activities of our lives. Thatcher Wine gifts us with the tools to rein in our distractibility, allowing us to more richly participate in all that we do. -- Dr David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain and Brain Wash
The Twelve Monotasks shows how we're not fully living up to our potential when we multitask and offers practical steps for what we can do about it. Offering key learnings around important daily activities including sleeping, eating, and walking, Thatcher Wine explains the deep and profound need for monotasking and how mastering it can lead to a more present, healthier, and happier you. -- Dr Frank Lipman, author of Better Sleep, Better You
Captivating, informative, and beautifully written, The Twelve Monotasks is a potential game changer for how we can give more of our attention to the things that really do matter. Thatcher's entrepreneurial and personal experience makes him the perfect guide to monotasking. It's a book worth your time. -- Nate Berkus, author of The Things That Matter
Learning to 'monotask' will help us stay stress-free and far more productive. -- YOU Magazine
This is an approach I'm sure many of us can get behind. -- Metro

Thatcher Wine is the Founder & CEO of Juniper Books, a company based in Boulder, Colorado that specializes in custom curated libraries and designing special edition book sets.

Thatcher's work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, New York Magazine, on CBS Sunday Morning and numerous other media outlets.

Neurological research definitively and repeatedly concludes that there is a bottleneck in our cognitive function - when we do more than one thing at a time, we become less efficient and more error-prone. Our systems get overloaded and we crash. In fact, we are actually wired to monotask - to give dedicated focus to one task at a time.Whether you call it monotasking, mindfulness, being present, or any other name, the goal is the same: Give your focus to one thing at a time and do it with your all. When we do things with our full focus, completely tuning our bodies and our brains in to one activity-like reading a book, listening to someone in a conversation, or paying attention to our surroundings while we go for a walk - amazing things can happen. Drawing on research in cognitive science, neuroscience, and mindfulness, The Twelve Monotasks shows that by concentrating on twelve everyday activities and approaching them with a focused mindset, we can rebuild and expand our attention spans. When we focus on what we are doing, where we are and who we are with, we can rediscover our ability to enjoy life, connect with others, and succeed in all that we do. And in the end, it makes us happier, more productive, and more present - in all aspects of our lives.

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