I was talking on the phone, wiping the counter and trying desperately to loosen some Parmesan cheese from the bottom of the jar. I had a plate of spaghetti that needed cheese like a child needs toys. I beat the plastic container against the counter, but couldn't dislodge the yellow mass. Whap, whap, whap, nothing! Then, in a battle of wills, I decided to give it one last swing, with some extra force, just to show it who's boss. Whap! The cover popped off and it was suddenly snowing Parmesan. I looked like a 1-year-old at his first birthday party, wearing more food than I ate. I am sure I bathed after some meals in my youth, but this was the first time I had to shower before my lunch.

Part of my Parmesan problem was rooted in methodology. When force failed, I redoubled my efforts and used excessive force. Still, underneath the poor methodology was a larger problem; I was trying to do too many things at once. I was making the mistake millions of people make on a daily basis; I was multitasking.

Multitasking is a myth — I am living proof — but for those who require data, the research is in. Multitasking as we know it does not really exist. Our brain, as complex as it is, really works best when focusing on one thing at a time. Think about it, the one-man band is amazing; he can play the drums, trumpet, keyboard, and cello all at once, but he's not great at any of them. Amazing? Yes! Yo-Yo Ma? Uh, no!

In most cases, what we call multitasking is actually moving from one task to another, rather than doing two things simultaneously. Interestingly, the shorter the span between activities, the worse our overall performance. Research shows that we are at our best when we follow one task through fruition before starting on the next.

This explains why our home office is a mess and our master bedroom is immaculate. I don't so much clean my office as wander around it. I see a bunch of books on the desk and put them away. While at the bookshelf I notice some printer cartridges and put those in the drawer. Suddenly I am back at my desk and see that my daughter left her homework in the office. I go to her room and get lost in conversation, never to return to my original task. Like a bloodhound that loses the scent, I wander the house wondering what I was supposed to be doing. In contrast, my wife (aka the taskmaster) makes a list of what she needs to get done and knocks 'em down one at a time. I am in charge of the office, and she is in charge of the bedroom. One is a mess and the other is spotless.

The moral of the story, then, is this: If you want something done well, give it your full attention. Wait until you've completed one task before you start on the next. If you must multitask, limit it to the most mundane and inconsequential activities. When in doubt, skip the Parmesan.

Michael C. DeMattos is on faculty at the University of Hawai'i Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work. Born and raised on the Wai'anae Coast, he now lives in Käne'ohe with his wife, daughter, two dogs and two mice.