---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have to do two things at once or I get…"
description: "\"I have to do two things at once or I get tired.\" — Shirley MacLaine"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/shirley-maclaine-1977_tired_i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get_1940199.jpg"
---

#  I have to do two things at once or I get tired.

![“I have to do two things at once or I get tired.” quote by Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/shirley-maclaine-1977_tired_i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get_1940199.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/shirley-maclaine-1977_tired_i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get_1940199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/shirley-maclaine-1977_tired_i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get_1940199.jpg)

> “I have to do two things at once or I get tired.”

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Attempting simultaneous tasks can cause fatigue, suggesting focus on one activity at a time preserves energy.

**In simple terms:** Doing two things at once leads to tiredness.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize single-task focus.

Themes

productivity energy focus

Mood

practical advisory

Type

self-help motivational

When to use this quote

- workplace
- study habits
- daily routines

Key Concepts

psychology time management

Questions to Reflect On

- Can multitasking ever be efficient?
- What strategies reduce fatigue when multitasking?

A Different Perspective

Multitasking may be necessary in emergencies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-tired-3086833/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-things/)

## Related quotes

> [I am sick of the disparity between things as they are and as they should be. I'm tired.I'm tired of the truth and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-am-sick-of-the-disparity-between-things-as-they-are-and-as-they/)

[Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/)

> [It's remarkable how we go on year after year, doing the same old things. We get tired and bored, and ask when they'll come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasunari-kawabata/it-s-remarkable-how-we-go-on-year-after-year-doing-the-same-old/)

[Yasunari Kawabata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasunari-kawabata/)

> [If you have a choice of two things and can't decide, take both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-corso/if-you-have-a-choice-of-two-things-and-can-t-decide-take-both/)

[Gregory Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-corso/)

> [There are two things in the world that can never get together- religion &amp; common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-foote/there-are-two-things-in-the-world-that-can-never-get-together/)

[George William Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-foote/)

> [Pain does two things: It teaches you, tells you that you're alive. Then it passes away and leaves you changed. It leaves you wiser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/pain-does-two-things-it-teaches-you-tells-you-that-you-re-alive-then/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Emotional Literacy means being able to recognise what you are feeling, so that it doesn't interfere with thinking. It becomes another dimension to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-orbach/emotional-literacy-means-being-able-to-recognise-what-you-are-feeling/)

[Susie Orbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-orbach/)

> [I tell my retreat students that they need to remember two things: to eat what they want when they're hungry and to feel what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-need-to-remember-two-things-to/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [We must begin by acknowledging that there is a complete absence of two things in Indian Society. One of these is equality. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/we-must-begin-by-acknowledging-that-there-is-a-complete-absence-of/)

[B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/)

> [Maps were so much easier than words. Words had a way of getting muddled, or meaning two things at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-howarth/maps-were-so-much-easier-than-words-words-had-a-way-of-getting/)

[Lesley Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-howarth/)

> [ Ladies, \[motherhood\] is a full-time job. Do not kid yourself that you can be a dental receptionist and a mother; that you can be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/ladies-motherhood-is-a-full-time-job-do-not-kid-yourself-that-you-can/)

[Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/)

> [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [There are two things that really get under Gary Neville's skin: scousers and policemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ferdinand/there-are-two-things-that-really-get-under-gary-neville-s-skin/)

[Rio Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ferdinand/)

> [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

## More by Shirley MacLaine

> [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [I'm too direct and too unsparingly impatient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-m-too-direct-and-too-unsparingly-impatient/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [The uninvestigated life is not worth living. I don't want to live that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/the-uninvestigated-life-is-not-worth-living-i-don-t-want-to-live-that/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [There's no journey worth taking except the journey through one's self. That's the most important journey you take. I found that out as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/there-s-no-journey-worth-taking-except-the-journey-through-one-s-self/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [... when things get rough, a breakthrough is just on the other side of the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/when-things-get-rough-a-breakthrough-is-just-on-the-other-side-of-the/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [I had a video made of my recent knee operation. The doctor said it was the best movie I ever starred in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-had-a-video-made-of-my-recent-knee-operation-the-doctor-said-it-was/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [Fear is concealed in smiles and flashing teeth. 'Please say you still love me,' the kings and queens are really saying. And, when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/fear-is-concealed-in-smiles-and-flashing-teeth-please-say-you-still/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [Some people think I look like a sweet potato, I consider myself a spud with a heart of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/some-people-think-i-look-like-a-sweet-potato-i-consider-myself-a-spud/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [Crystals are amplifying minerals. You have a crystal in a radio - it amplifies the sound waves. You have a crystal in a television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/crystals-are-amplifying-minerals-you-have-a-crystal-in-a-radio-it/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [“It's useless to hold a person to anything he says wile he's in love, drunk, or running for office.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/it-s-useless-to-hold-a-person-to-anything-he-says-wile-he-s-in-love/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [I'd like to introduce someone who has just come into my life. I've admired him for 35 years. He's someone who represents integrity, honesty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-d-like-to-introduce-someone-who-has-just-come-into-my-life-i-ve/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/the-more-i-traveled-the-more-i-realized-that-fear-makes-strangers-of/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [If we can genuinely honor our mother and father we are not only at peace with ourselves but we can then give birth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/if-we-can-genuinely-honor-our-mother-and-father-we-are-not-only-at/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [I do miss the stage. There's nothing like it, nothing. When I did my one-woman show and played the Palace and played the Gershwin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-do-miss-the-stage-there-s-nothing-like-it-nothing-when-i-did-my-one/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [If anything interferes with my inner peace, I will walk away. Arguments with family members. All that stuff. None of it matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/if-anything-interferes-with-my-inner-peace-i-will-walk-away-arguments/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

[Explore all 193 Shirley MacLaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

## More Things quotes

> [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/)

[Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/)

[Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/)

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/)

[Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/)

> [A vacuum can only exist, I imagine, by the things which enclose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/a-vacuum-can-only-exist-i-imagine-by-the-things-which-enclose-it/)

[Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/)

> [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/)

[Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I wasn't into jazz so much - I preferred things raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-wasn-t-into-jazz-so-much-i-preferred-things-raw/)

[Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/)

> [I used a psychologist when I was playing, It's one of the most powerful things: how you can have a concrete head and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/i-used-a-psychologist-when-i-was-playing-it-s-one-of-the-most/)

[Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/)

[Browse all 20,321 Things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have to do two things at once or I get tired.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shirley MacLaine"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get-tired/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Things"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get-tired/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/shirley-maclaine-1977_tired_i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get_1940199.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/shirley-maclaine-1977_tired_i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get_1940199.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/shirley-maclaine-1977_tired_i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get_1940199.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have to do two things at once or I get tired.” — Shirley MacLaine",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Shirley MacLaine",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have to do two things...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get-tired/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-have-to-do-two-things-at-once-or-i-get-tired/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
