đź“– Story of the Week
With so much to do and so little time, it feels logical to try and accomplish as much as possible all at once, right?
But bestselling author James Clear (Atomic Habits) says otherwise.
In his article The Myth of Multitasking, he explains that the problem with multitasking isn’t doing two things at the same time—it’s that your brain can’t fully focus on more than one thing at a time.
When you switch between tasks, your brain experiences what psychologists call task-switching, which introduces a lag in your ability to fully engage with the new task.
Much like compound interest, those little lags add up quickly—and soon, you’ve lost significant time and energy.
Clear puts it simply:
“The myth of multitasking is that it will make you more effective. In reality, remarkable focus is what makes the difference.”
So if multitasking doesn’t work, what does?
Gary Keller’s The One Thing offers a compelling answer. Through personal stories and research, he shows that the best way to make meaningful progress is to be laser-focused on the one thing that matters most in any moment.
He writes:
“Make sure every day you do what matters most. When you know what matters most, everything makes sense. When you don’t know what matters most, anything makes sense.”
🪢 The Chinese Finger Trap
To tie this all together, I like to think of the old toy: the Chinese finger trap.
If you’ve never seen one, it’s a small tube that tightens when you try to pull your fingers apart. The trick to escaping? Push your fingers together—toward the center—and the trap loosens.
The lesson here is powerful:
When we scatter our focus across too many priorities, we become trapped—progress feels tight and stuck.
But when we center our energy on one clear purpose, we can finally break free and move forward.
🎾 On-Court Application
While you likely have several goals during each practice, start by identifying your #1 priority.
- Struggling with your serve? Start with a basket of serves—get the reps in first.
- Volleys need work? Begin every session at the net.
- Footwork causing trouble? Do shadow drills before you hit a single ball.
Put your top goal first in your session. Build everything else around it. This is how great players train with intention.
🧠Off-Court Application
This principle applies everywhere:
- Want to get in better shape? Workout first thing in the morning.
- Need to eat healthier? Prep your meals the day before.
- Feel like your day slips away? Build a morning routine and block off time for your goals.
Whatever your biggest challenge is—put it first, before your time and energy get pulled elsewhere.
âś… Your Challenge (CTA)
Pick one goal—on or off court—that matters most right now.
Then:
- Use the SMART goal method to define it clearly (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound).
​(Need help? I may write a newsletter on SMART goals soon!)
- Make a game plan that places your goal first each day.
​(You can still have other goals, but this one gets top priority—no exceptions.)
- Track your progress and reflect at the end of the week. Adjust, repeat.
Following this simple process will help you make consistent, focused progress—and build real momentum over time.
Let me know if you enjoyed this newsletter by replying to this email—I’d love to hear from you.
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