Have you ever been asked if you were able to multitask, or often times just generally described yourself as a person who is able to multitask? I normally would, so imagine my surprise when I learned that the concept of multitasking was really nothing short of a myth— it isn’t a real thing! This discovery was quite an interesting one for me, and so, of course I had to share my research and findings with you too, my dear friends and readers. So, are you really multitasking? Here’s what research scientists and psychologists are saying about that:
Multitasking can be anything that involves doing multiple tasks simultaneously, from talking to a friend while checking a social feed, reading the newspaper while having breakfast, texting a friend while clearing other notifications, or compiling a fulsome report while completing a routine task like updating a calendar… the list could go on and on. Learning there was no such thing as multitasking though, simply because our brains weren’t wired for it, was a hard pill to swallow; I had to reprogram my mind, learn how to slow down, pace myself, focus my energy on thoroughly completing one task (getting it done right the first time), before moving on fully to the next.
For many, multitasking is a “skill”, and one that helps you to get more done in less time, right? Hmm, not quite. As a matter of fact, you aren’t exactly getting more done, and while theoretically you seem to be, or may feel “more productive”— being able to complete multiple tasks at once— in reality this idea of multitasking does more harm to production than good.
A collective body of research on psychological science, revealed that the costs to task switching was unavoidable, and hurts productivity since switching causes individuals to use up more time to complete a task and do so with increased chances of the task being done with more errors, as opposed to sticking to one task at a time, and seeing it through to the end. Switching tasks, means you would either have to leave one task unfinished to start or complete another, or having to repeatedly switch between tasks; in either case, the chances for distractions and confusion are far greater.
Further to this, in a study done for the National Library of Medicine by Research Scientist, Kevin P. Madore, PhD and Psychology Professor, Anthony D. Wagner, PhD, Psychological science and neuroscience indicated that each time we attempt multitasking, or task switching, our minds are being taxed; this action, like everything else in life (except salvation and the grace of God), is not free. There is an increased demand being placed on the neurocognitive systems of our minds that are responsible for and support controlled and sustained attention. Each time we have to switch to a new task, our brains are in turn, tasked with bringing to mind the expectations and goals of the new task, in order to perform and complete same efficiently. Consequently, what generally happens is that “when we switch between tasks, we lose the benefits of automaticity and efficiency that come from staying focused on a single task.”
It is a scientific fact that our brains weren’t wired to focus on multiple things at once, and even if we are (or think we are), there are still limits; just as our eyes can’t focus on multiple objects at once. It is possible that many may think they are and have been mastering the art or “skill” of multitasking, but that has just been the brain’s ability to work quickly. In the long and short of it, many experts have suggested that while we try to juggle and balance the art of multitasking, it is doing more harm than good, stretching and therefore, damaging the brain’s ability to maintain focus and attention on doing a single task well.
The only likely result that will come from us trying to multitask, is that our brains may wear itself thin, trying to do too much; take on new or constantly switching between information, while we try to take on too many tasks at a time, especially those vastly unrelated, and evidently we aren’t necessarily being able to perform any exceptionally well, in the end. But hey! I’m no scientist, so don’t just take my word for it; let the science speak for itself.
At the end of the day, you have to protect your mental space. Take a breather, slow down, and try to focus more on getting one thing done properly at a time. Give your mind and brain a rest sometimes; it’ll thank you for it. And remember, if you don’t slow down for yourself, your body and life will do it for you, and none of us wants that.
Until next time, take a chill pill, breathe, drink some water, and as always, big up yuhself!
:D
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