Enfolding, Unfolding, or Multi-Tasking Occupations
A look back at when multi-tasking was expected
In yesterday’s blog post we hinted that we may need to consider unlearning our belief that combining two tasks is never beneficial. Multi-tasking generally indicates two or more things are being accomplished at the same time. Multi-tasking was once a sought after ability in an employee. This was reflected in identifying multi-tasking as a desired and necessary skill that was a standard job interview question until research indicated people really can’t actually attend well to two tasks at the same time. As that research mounted, combining tasks moved from a desirable ability to a “no-no”. What looked like doing two things simultaneously was shown to frequently decrease our productivity and make us more likely to make errors. [1]
The beauty of research is that as we know more, our understanding evolves. Research studies alone are insufficient to provide the information we need to figure out what works. Just as we once thought multi-tasking was a sought after ability, we have since stopped expecting multi-tasking in employees and called it what research suggests it most often is-- task switching. [2]
Like many things, there appears to also be another variation of this which is not as black and white as being good or bad, and a more intentional combining of tasks or roles which is actually beneficial.
It looks like multi-tasking on the surface (remember yesterday’s post where the girl was coloring and listening to an audiobook at the same time or the boy walked in circles as he listened to the same story?)
Both children on the surface appeared to be distracted or multi-tasking. In reality, they were noticing what sort of sensory input their bodies needed and acting on it in order to attend to the task.
Even more surprising-- I as a parent never, ever suggested they combine those two activities (in fact, I discouraged it thinking it was not a good thing to do). The children intuitively recognized what they needed and did it--they did not require my direction to figure that out! (actually, they required me to move out of their way and trust they knew themselves well enough to know what to do) And-- they learned while I unlearned.
What we mean by enfolding
In occupational therapy literature, this adaptive strategy of combining two tasks in this way was termed “enfolding”. Now, what you are about to read next is not the textbook definition.
It is, however, the way it best makes sense to me to understand the difference between multitasking as a “no-no” or ineffective way of doing things and enfolding as a life enhancing strategy. Enfolding, I would say, also works best when we honor that someone knows the cues their body is sending them and is adapting how or what they do accordingly. We’ll talk more about understanding our body’s internal communication to us next week.
Enfolding characteristics
Enfolding (as it makes most sense to me) is combining two or more activities and/or roles with the intention of performing that task or in that role more effectively.
In contrast, multi-tasking is often done with the intent to get more things completed or do more at the same time (well intended, but less effective). How effective the outcome of combining the two activities is can be a good indicator if they are best paired or done individually.
Noticing when someone may be enfolding
I made the mistake of trying to stop my child from moving or coloring to sit quietly and listen to the book. In reality, my children are much more in tune with their body’s signals than I give them credit for and they were doing exactly what they needed to be able to attend to the book, not being distracted as I thought. In these instances, the pairing or enfolding was so intentional and honoring of their inner knowing, it allowed learning to occur.
In contrast, if they followed my suggestion to stay still and listen only-- their ability to retain the information and attend was reduced-- not exactly the outcomes we are looking to achieve. My directions were based on things like what I thought the research says about what paying attention looks like or wanting them to follow the expectations or rules of a society. Oddly, meeting those goals without considering what actually helps them learn is counterproductive and meeting goals that may not best serve them in the future.
Enfolding as a strategy to motivate and engage
It also can be the pairing or combination that moves something from unlikely or inconsistently occurring to happening and happening regularly as the story below illustrates. Choosing not to do things separately but rather pair them intentionally is a strategy many of us use daily without even realizing the wisdom in this choice.
The literature on enfolding is still emerging, yet it has been shown to be a common coping strategy for adults managing complex daily schedules. Many adult women, for example, would tell you they have learned to navigate their shifting roles of adulthood by pairing a necessary activity or occupation (i.e. running errands/shopping) with a valued activity or occupation (i.e. social participation by shopping with a friend). [3,4]
While navigating the various demands of adulthood, women often find new ways to meet their needs for social engagement as the time demands in their lives shift due to role changes. An example of this could be a parent of young children and an unmarried person who once spent weekends doing activities that no longer fit into their schedules now shop for groceries or other necessities at the same time as a new routine to maintain social engagement that meets both friends’ needs.
Jacinda’s story of enfolding as the secret sauce to developing an exercise routine
Meet Jacinda—two years ago she was trying to figure out how to incorporate exercise back into her life as part of her regular routine after experiencing some changes that made her typical exercise routine no longer an option. Fast forward to today and you’ll learn how enfolding was a key method in developing a consistent exercise routine.
Jacinda, like all of us, is living during a pandemic. She lives alone and was recently laid off from a job she loved, a job which also met many of her needs to connect socially while also engaging in work that was very meaningful for her. She had previously frequently incorporated walks into her work day to enhance thinking with the added benefit of tending to her well-being. That was where she first began being intentional about the benefit of a “walk and talk” since brainstorming could be just as easily accomplished on a walk as it was seated in a chair, and it was a healthy choice while working a mostly sedentary job.
During the various stages of social distancing, Jacinda began to implement outdoor walks with people from a variety of circles into her daily routine. Over time, this became so ingrained into her daily routine that consciously choosing to walk really was not even necessary—it became something she greatly looked forward to doing. Daily exercise was no longer a chore to fit in, it became a valued routine.
How did this move from a task, to habit, to routine?
Let’s start with 5 W’s of how walking paired with another meaningful role or activity worked.
Why: Desire for connection, wish to connect in a safe way during a pandemic
What Occupation chosen: Walking outdoors, social participation
Who: Walk with people from many different circles, some more consistent pairings
When: Daily (combination of set times and unexpected opportunities)
Where: In neighborhood or other outdoor walking paths
Results
By recognizing what matters most to her, why she would want to walk, with whom, where, and when she developed the clarity to see how this pairing of walking and social connection made this habit stick. It was something that could be safely done, and had the added benefit of nature’s restorative benefits.
When to choose or go back to one thing at a time
In contrast, the opposite of enfolding is unfolding or choosing one activity at a time. Unfolding can also mean breaking up a task into smaller chunks to be completed later or having someone else complete a portion of the task for inclusion. For simplicity, unfolding here will simply mean choosing to do one task at a time. [6]
Choosing whether to enfold (combine more than one activity or role) or unfold (choose only one activity) requires us to know what we intend to get out of an activity.
If we are seeking solitude, quiet, time for an uninterrupted phone call where we can focus only on the conversation, completion of a complex task, learning or unwinding by listening to a podcast or audio book, just be, etc. -- unfolding may be best in these circumstances.
References
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/science-clear-multitasking-doesnt-work/ ret. 8.9.2021:
https://www.addept.org/living-with-adult-add-adhd/task-switching
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:477103/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Orban K, Edberg AK, Erlandsson LK. Using a time-geographical diary method in order to facilitate reflections on changes in patterns of daily occupations. Scand J Occup Ther. 2012 May;19(3):249-59. doi: 10.3109/11038128.2011.620981. Epub 2011 Oct 24. PMID: 22017646.
https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2019/04/10/health-nature-science-outside
Segal R. Adaptive strategies of mothers with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: enfolding and unfolding occupations. Am J Occup Ther. 2000 May-Jun;54(3):300-6. doi: 10.5014/ajot.54.3.300. PMID: 10842686.
