Multitasking Myth or Mastery?
(Header image: Traffic chaos symbolizes multitasking.)
Can you multitask lol? Is there such a thing as multitasking, REALLY?
When we talk about multitasking, we're not just referring to simple tasks like walking and chewing gum. We're talking about the ability to handle complex cognitive work while juggling multiple tasks. Do you think we're wired for this or need assistance?
Push to shove, lol... our performance may decline, errors may occur, and our productivity will take a significant hit, a surefire path to burnout and excessive stress.
Then again, they say, some are trained; others not. But there's an upper limit.
It's precisely like chaotic intersections where multiple streets converge; so much traffic can smoothly flow till everything gets backed up and gridlocked.
I'm eager to hear your thoughts. What's your take on the topic?
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Recent Comments
77
I am a multitasker, and I can attest it is a real thing. However, I wouldn't say I like doing it. As you mentioned, it is a recipe for burnout, mistakes, and even disaster. I do it if I have to, but I won't do it for long because it is just too stressful. It is one of the reasons I hated working in the corporate world. Whenever a boss figured out I could do it if needed, they took advantage. Honestly, I was good at it until the burnout hit. Then, small mistakes happened. I tried to avoid letting it be known, but I always slipped up because things needed to be done simultaneously.
You are right, it is not as simple as walking and chewing gum at the same time, but I do like the analogy.
Nancy
The sooner folks work for themselves, the better, or they make someone else's dream a reality. Appreciate the feedback here, Nancy :)
Yea, TheAbiePPlus, as usual you bring some food for thought and I think this, too, falls into such categories. One colleague in this community wrote a whole blog post critical of multitasking and asserted that one ends up not doing any task perfectly and in the such a multitasker will be unproductive. In my view, it was an over-reaction. It depends on how one has trained his/her mind to handle tasks.
I recall during my childhood upbringing that our mother would assign whoever will remain home when others go with her in the garden multiple tasks. They would range from preparing lunch, fetching water and cleaning the house. Trouble would come if she comes back when one of the given tasks is not performed to her satisfaction.
One would look at the tasks, see the time he/she has to accomplish them all and then plan how to execute them.
I think this is what is required to achieve multitasks.
Thank you for this post
Joseph
Thank you, Joseph :) If the work is distributed, multitasking becomes more accessible. I agree... Poor you guys, "Not to her satisfaction, lol."
If it is down to one person, things can go south very quickly lol - As I explained to Richard, I get sidetracked a lot; there are so many people and situations; however, I must keep my eye on the prize... And the big picture, but that isn't easy. I must try and push myself to breaking points if I have to... That's how determined I am, lol.
There's some truth to being unproductive, as you are not able to concentrate and finish the task. But I think with training, you can get to fetch... And believe me, it is a great feeling.
I appreciate what you shared here, Joseph; always aim to be better...
Sure, I always aim to do my tasks to the best of my abilities. The training I got from my mother has helped me somehow. If I have several tasks to accomplish in a day, I plan how to go about it.
I am aware of un-invited circumstances. These I try to find a way of working through them and not postpone any tasks planned for the day. It may mean working longer hours to recover lost time.
It has worked for me. Wishing you all the best.
Joseph
Thank you, Joseph, and awesomely happy for you :) I am ever looking for more optimal methods to make more out of shorter bursts - I am glad you found what resonated with you.
Thank you for your continual encouragements. For one who want a simple trick is to work out what time is each task takes to accomplish. Then set in motion such a task that will take the longest time and set last that which takes the shortest time. For instance, if cooking and washing dishes are the tasks, then set up the cooking task first. As it is going on, then wash the dishes.
If the issue is complexity, then perform the simplest first. This will not consume much of your brain power., Then devote the rest of the energy and time on the complex one. Thus far, this strategy has worked for me.
Once again, thank you for your unwavering help and encouragement you provide me and many other in the community.
Have a great day.
Joseph
It makes sense, but there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution—no, no, no, lol.
We do what resonates best with us, but I appreciate you figuring out your schedule or how best to save time to maximize efficiency; that's great.
I am never satisfied with the status quo. I always want to explore other avenues and routes, constantly seeking even better, if not the best, ways to do things.
My journey continues. You are most welcome, Joseph, lol.
I, a hundred percent agree with you. There are other avenues. As long as you figure out how to approach it , you are half way the journey. Continue to explore what works in your situation. Sometimes single task is the best option. I will for it if I figure that out.
Thank you once again. I love these brainstorming sessions.
Joseph
Hi Abie
I agree that there is an upper limit to multitasking well. It depends on how comfortable we are with the tasks and their level of complexity.
Some people do it better than others and training can help.
I typically prefer to think about one thing at a time since it creates a more relaxing state of mind.
People are so stressed out these days that it’s important to create productivity boundaries, whenever possible.
Ongoing stress can have a detrimental effect on mental and physical health.
Frank 🎸
I admire your response here. From a medical or caring point of view, it's important to look after yourself. But I find that I like to push my luck as far as I can go.
I am unhappy with my performance to date, so I am trying to be bold and take it to another level or perhaps learn to leverage resources more efficiently.
Hi Abie
I can really connect with what you're saying because I was a bit of a "multitasking maniac" in my younger years. Lol
For example, back in the late 1970s, I was pushing musical multitasking to the max and having a great time in the process. I discovered that if I mixed down stereo tracks of two all-instrumental songs that were both in the same key signature that I could simultaneously play the mixed-down mono track of each song into a different ear while wearing headphones. The two songs came together in my brain to create one "super song."
I was in my late 20s back then, but I still have those cassette tapes, and they still sound good to my ears. Lol 🤣
These days, I'm very content to keep multitasking to a minimum and enjoy life as much as possible. 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Wow, Frank! I must try that technique... and see how it sounds lol. Way to go... Yeah!
It is my time to push, lol - I appreciate it, Frank!
Haha, go for it, Abie! 👍👍
Remember, no lyrics and both songs in the same key. Best not to mix genres.
Enjoy! 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Well, science has proven many times that the human brain is unable to CONSCIOUSLY multitask well. Our conscious brain can hold 5 to 7 items of information at one time but can only properly focus on one purpose at a time. Try focusing on a conversation and the ironing at the same time. If you apply half your attention to both, neither does as well as it could. Mostly, we get away with it by switching attention constantly from one to the other. That means when we take that approach we become highly inefficient and usually relatively ineffective in comparison with what we could achieve.
With subconscious minds it gets much more complicated. Our brains are indeed handling many functions at the same time. To all the bodily functions it controls, at also monitors the things we are trying to figure out consciously and that we're trying to achieve. However, the subconscious mind instantly hands over to the conscious mind when necessary, such as when we burn ourselves with that ironing.
If you want to do your best work it's best to deliberately, consciously focus on one thing at a time.
;-)
Richard
Richard, that makes absolute sense. I like how you said, "The subconscious mind instantly hands over." That is right on. Yes! Sometimes, I put on headphones while sleeping with a podcast playing until it ends. I wonder if my subconscious is absorbing information while I sleep. There's no limit to how much information we can store, but the question is how that information is utilized.
I am always looking to consume as much as I can manage, sometimes even biting off more than I can chew. I find it very hard to sit idle; I am always engaged in something productive. Qualifications and perceptions are equally important; obviously, we'd want to focus on the task at hand.
I also find myself easily distracted, constantly shifting between people or situations. Although I can focus on a task, I work well under pressure and can achieve very high degrees of satisfaction. However, practically speaking, I find it hard to explain how I manage this.
Energy-wise, I have no issues; I seem to have an unlimited energy supply. I can keep going indefinitely without feeling tired or wanting to stop, but sometimes it catches up with me. I would take extended breaks if necessary, but that does not happen often.
I have always been fascinated with the idea of leveraging; I would want to do more if only I knew how. However, I agree with you that deliberately focusing on the task with undivided attention is essential.
Excellent input and feedback here, Richard! I appreciate you.
Hi Abie
It seems that the brain is good at retaining more or less every experience however the challenge we have is retrieving it when we need it.
This is why Tiago Forte suggested creating a data bank that he calls a second brain. In theory, everything that goes into the data bank has also gone into the brain so it's a great way of using technology for organising and re-organising information without relying directly on the brain's relatively poor recall ability.
I prefer to think of it as a brain extension because it has to be designed to work very closely with the way I like to work. I call mine my "Personal Knowledge Library."
;-)
Richard
Great prospects here, Richard! Absolutely... All we need now is a USB 2.0 port to extend to that library, which is saved elsewhere and connected to our subconscious mind. It's like The Matrix revisited...
I was thinking about how an army of bots is working for me, continually feeding me knowledge and ideas for potential brainstorming.
I am trying to build and refine from GPT to Claude to Poe and the array of others.
Brands, logos, and businesses leverage ideas, products, and services virtually non-stop, around the clock.
But also all the actions that need to be taken to implement those ideas and thoughts. Perhaps extra personnel is required.
I am getting along pretty nicely.
I appreciate your explanations here, Richard! They are first-class awesomeness.
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Multi-tasking on a computer (such as opening different windows, each running its own "task") appears to be simultaneous, but isn't.
Memory is being partitioned and the processor is being time-sliced, so that as you switch from one task to another, the appropriate memory partition gets focus and time slices of the processor are used. In other windows, background tasks may be getting some processor time allocated so that they keep running.
It's a function of the operating system to allocate resources, assign priorities and avoid cross-contamination.
I suspect our brains work in a similar fashion.
Multiple tasks don't actually happen simultaneously, but appear to because our brain's "operating system" switches between them efficiently.
And some are better at it than others, of course.
I love it; that's how folks like Jobs and Gates built their empires :) They figured that was what it took... Perhaps in collaboration with Einstein.
I am not interested in better; I want to be the best I can be with the resources and time I have.
I appreciate the feedback here, Phil :) Thank you. We indeed only got 1.
Great thinking, Abie.
Thank you, Phil :) I hope you're enjoying your evening.
Just finished dinner and about to watch the evening news.
That's so cool, enjoy :)
I'm thinking of abandoning work for the rest of the evening. Maybe watch Rebel Moon Part 2. Or Enola Holmes lol.
Thank you, I have been looking for that show lol - I have watched part I, and it was fantastic :) Superb creation.
Part 2 recently found its way onto Netflix.
That's awesome, thank you for the info! It is showtime with masses of popcorn and buckets of soda lol 🍿🥤
I watched it last night, it was incredible...
I watched something else that I'd already started but may catch it tonight. Thanks for the recommendation.
You are welcome, Phil :)
Have you checked the 'Big Gun' lol - how the scargiver put a dent in the Motherworld ship 💣💣💥💥
Now they're gonna find Princess Issa and fight, lmao 🤣🤣🤔
Absolutely, part 3 with Zack Snyder at the helm is almost certain.
I appreciate your feedback here, Phi :) I think you guys are crushing it, lol.
Just watched 2 movies that contrasted. Kill Bill Vols 1 and 2, so brilliant, every scene a masterpiece, every bit of dialog spot on and then... The Flash, what a heap of crap, poor dialog, poor acting and full of plot holes. Rebel Moon halfway between but worth watching.
I have seen The Flash; I remembered the other day I didn't watch Kill Bill, lol.
RM is pretty cool for the first time... I am excited to see what will happen to Princess Issa and Jimmy backing the group :)
Rebel Moon 3: Find Princess Issa and Fight (release date: 2025) <--- Made it up, of course lol
General Zod invades Earth and demands that they surrender Kal-El but we learn later that they intercepted the pod and, while attempting to extract the codex, killed the infant Kal-El. Massive plot hole!
Following up on Reddit lolol - UGC - Thank you, Phil!