Multitasking in the long run hinders productivity, prevents forming new habits and negatively impacts your health. Getty Images
Multitasking in the long run hinders productivity, prevents forming new habits and negatively impacts your health. Getty Images
Multitasking in the long run hinders productivity, prevents forming new habits and negatively impacts your health. Getty Images
Multitasking in the long run hinders productivity, prevents forming new habits and negatively impacts your health. Getty Images

Why entrepreneurs should stop multitasking


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  • Arabic

Four months ago, I found myself on the verge of feeling burnt out by my life and work responsibilities.

In an attempt to prevent that from happening, I knew that my routine needed reshuffling.

The old me, at similar occurrences, would have numbed the feeling by treating myself to shopping sprees and indulging in a cosy night binge-watching my favourite movies.

What did the new me do? I decided to log out of my social media accounts the minute I stepped into my office and whenever I entered my bedroom.

I gave up listening to music while working, cooking, driving, or when doing almost anything I did.

I stopped opening many web browser tabs to check multiple email addresses at once. In fact, I removed my email from my tablet devices to prevent myself from checking my emails the minute I woke up in the morning.

In a nutshell, I decided to focus on one activity at a time.

As insignificant as these small habits may sound, it was extremely challenging and I realised that I had been a multitasking addict.

My mind had been wired for a very long time to focus on several projects at once. I even prided myself on being an efficient multitasker.

This resonates with a recent New York Times column on why people should stop multitasking and be fully present with whatever they are doing, one activity at a time.

If you had tried to gain control over your focus by panning out your day sequentially and focusing on one task at hand, you would have probably come to realise that learning how to do it will not only help eliminate feelings of stress and anxiety and enhance productivity but also teach an essential skill needed to thrive in an uncertain time.

Multitasking isn’t something new. In fact, in a digital age where everything is expected almost instantly, multitaskers are celebrated for their exceptional skills to master several projects at a time.

This is not to say that we should never multitask, as several situations would require us to use this skill.

However, multitasking, in the long run, hinders productivity, could prevent us from forming new habits and negatively affect our health.

Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, discusses in his book how multitasking can interfere with our ability to develop new habits because we are constantly switching between different tasks.

In her book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain says multitasking can hinder productivity, contribute to stress and can even lead to health issues.

In Islam, focusing on prayers and being present in mind five times a day is a core requirement and those who have mastered concentration in prayer discuss the rewards reaped for feeling more grounded and less stressed.

I have to admit that when I began training myself to focus on a single task, I felt constrained and feared that it would take me longer to complete the tasks at hand and how that would negatively affect my work with my clients.

However, I have come to realise that by splitting my focus across several tasks, I deprived myself of the enjoyment of being fully immersed in the task at hand.

I’ve since experienced an increase in productivity and overall life satisfaction.

We will always have so much to do and in a world in which our jobs require so much in so little time, reclaiming our focus can help us to develop our skills, enjoy our week and, ultimately, our lives.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications adviser based in Abu Dhabi

Results
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Scorebox

Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)

Wanderers

Tries Gormley, Penalty

Cons Flaherty

Pens Flaherty 2

Tigers

Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly

Cons Caldwell 2

Pens Caldwell, Cross

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
Afghanistan Premier League - at a glance

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Fixtures:

Tue, Oct 16, 8pm: Kandahar Knights v Kabul Zwanan; Wed, Oct 17, 4pm: Balkh Legends v Nangarhar Leopards; 8pm: Kandahar Knights v Paktia Panthers; Thu, Oct 18, 4pm: Balkh Legends v Kandahar Knights; 8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers; Fri, Oct 19, 8pm: First semi-final; Sat, Oct 20, 8pm: Second semi-final; Sun, Oct 21, 8pm: final

Table:

1. Balkh Legends 6 5 1 10

2. Paktia Panthers 6 4 2 8

3. Kabul Zwanan 6 3 3 6

4. Nagarhar Leopards 7 2 5 4

5. Kandahar Knights 5 1 4 2

BELGIUM%20SQUAD
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The%20specs
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
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Four tips to secure IoT networks

Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:

- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version

- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number

- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently

- Always create a different guest network for visitors

SUZUME
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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The%20end%20of%20Summer
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AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD

Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday

Second leg

Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm

Game is on BeIN Sports

At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland

UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

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Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

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Updated: August 07, 2023, 10:15 AM