Is Multitasking a Myth or Advantage?

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I am very sure many of us multitask... or at least assume we are...

The idea of saving time by doing several other things simultaneously while doing one is therefore very attractive because we want to achieve more at the same time.

In an article by Chris Adams titled, "Can People Really Multitask?" In ThoughtCo, Chris mentions the following...

“The short answer to whether people can really multitask is no. Multitasking is a myth. The human brain cannot perform two tasks that require high-level brain function at once. Low-level functions like breathing and pumping blood aren't considered in multitasking. Only the tasks you have to "think" about are considered. What actually happens when you think you are multitasking is that you are rapidly switching between tasks.”

MYTH?

Wow, you mean all these while I am actually doing one thing at a time but my brain switches between them?

Some researchers claim that our brains really cannot multitask and that by juggling several things, we’re not doing any one thing very well.

Now that I know that it is a myth, what does this mean?

This means that we were looking to gain an advantage in the wrong place!

ADVANTAGE?

There is No Advantage in multitasking. What we are really doing is thought we are multitasking but subjecting our brains to perform the task sequentially but switching between them.

So what do we do?

Let’s find out what prominent neuroscientists say.

Focus

Sure, we’ve all become proficient at switching tasks from one to the other, but that doesn’t mean that we are doing anything very well. In fact, researchers tell us that this kind of frenzied activity is hard on our thinker with all that stop-start-stop-start stuff. It’s only with a profound, unbroken focus that we can do our best work, that we can excel, that we can break through any barriers.

Multitasking leads to mistakes!

So, let’s try to reason here... maybe, it just depends on the activity.

Yes, it would be quite a challenge even for the most capable of us to be working on a product launch AND talking on the phone AND taking a sip of coffee in-between sentences. That’s what we try to do sometimes.

But what about working on a project and watching Netflix? Even that might slip one’s focus. At some exciting point in the show, for those few seconds, you are distracted?

For most minds, it’s probably better that to the best of our ability, we train our brain to work on one thing at a time.

Multitasking interrupts our thinking!

Have you ever reflected on the times you try to do many things and the times you did only one thing?

Very often people get their best results when they were focused on the one thing.

Get a piece of paper and a line in the middle. Try to write a sentence, say “I am multitasking between words and numbers” on the left and write “even numbers from 20 down to zero” on the right.

Do it once simultaneously? I.e. multitasking

Then, write the sentence on the left first, the even numbers on the right after you finish the left.

Time yourself doing it, which was faster? And less prone to mistakes.

Multitasking lessens quality…and does not save time!

Therefore Plan Your Work then Work Your Plan one item at a time may help you focus and get more done and give you an advantage.

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Recent Comments

6

In the business world multitasking is not a myth but is heavily practiced. One needs to be careful not to overload the work because you run the risk of diluting your efforts and your websites and blogs will not be clear and detailed as they should be!! Nice post. Best regards.

Yes, as project manager I have to manage work breakdown structure (WBS) to ensure all tasks are aligned to resources to ensure tasks gets done.

While some say they can multitask I have to concentrate on one thing at a time. Any more and mistakes keep appearing in all of them.

Thanks for posting this Stanley.

Derek

Thanks for this post. I have always believed that I can only do 1 task at a time. Multi-tasking always meant rapid switching between tasks. With every switch, we lose time.

Thank you for this post. Am one person who likes focusing on one thing at a time but has been condemned for not multitasking. Labelled inefficient at times. But this gives scientific facts for me to keep my stance. Thanks.

Stanley,
Very good concept. I think we are all guilty of multi-tasking at times.
Thanks for the Blog.
Carrie

Thanks doing tasks one at time enables you to do them well

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