MultiTasking Is Killing Your Brain: What Do You Think?
Is MultiTasking Killing Your Brain Cells Or Not?
Let's do a scenario play here of what you are doing right now all at once:
1/ You are breathing
2/ You are reading
3/ You are sitting or standing or lying down
4/ You are listening
5/ You are smelling
6/ You are eating or drinking
(if you are an avid multitasker!)
7/ You are computing what is being read
8/ You are debating whether this list is true
But! What Constitutes A Task? After All, Where Supposed To Be MultiTASKING!
NOTE: Credit to dictionary.com for definition
However, this doesn't do the word 'task' any justice, so let's find the definition for 'task'
NOTE: Credit to dictionary.com for definition
You Choose
You may take your pick of how you'd like to define the word 'task', but I prefer the first definition as this describes action which is a doING word and most of the words we used ended in 'ing', thus classifying them as action words, doing words.
Are We Then Killing Our Brain Cells By Doing ALL These Actions At Once?
If we are then surely we would all be zombies by now?!
I have heard it say that we DON'T use our brains ENOUGH and that we are lazy individuals who could be using their brains a lot more! I for one believe that I use my brain quite extensively and try and provide solutions for most anything I encounter and issue with, such as the one we're discussing! :-)
What Have We Concluded?
If we stop the first task in our list, we all know that we would cease to exist, so that's non-negotiable.
Our second task is what we do all the time throughout the day, we tell the time, we read our text messages, we read our emails, we read our blogs and others blogs, so that can''t be ruled out, we need to read.
If you aren't doing any of the 3 actions listed there, what on earth are you doing? :-)
....and so we can carry on...
As you can see, we multitask whether we like it or not. I find it hard to believe what the 'experts' are telling us about our brain cells being killed by multitasking, this is quite absurd - of course the brain cells will die off, but NATURALLY from age.
Verdict:
I absolutely don't believe that multitasking killing your brain, or mine!
What does this have to do with WA?
When we have so many emails to read, so many blogs to read, so many tasks in training to do, we may feel that we are getting bogged down and so it seems that we are unable to cope.
This feeling is quite valid, so take heed when it comes up and stay focused on a single task at a time. See it through step by step and then on to the next. If you try to do all tasks at the same time, you will take EVEN longer to accomplish them and you will become despondent. It will seem as though your brain is about to explode with all the info, but then you have the where with all to counteract that and control that.
One task at a time, accomplishes the deadline!
What Do You Think?
Recent Comments
59
I think you're right, that's what I think...
I think humans are hard-wired to multitask, in the manner you've so ably pointed out. And, unlike some of our less evolved brethren, we do it all with our brain, and most of it is conscious!
Great argument to counter the scare headlines of our times.
Thanks, Edu!
Tim
Most interesting, Edu...
I think it's less and issue of doing different tasks at once, and more an issue of prioritizing.
Since I don't have a"M.D." pr "Ph. D." pr any other abbreviation after my name, I don't know the accuracy f the comment "killings our brain cells". I do believe, however, that just like any muscle, our brain needs to be given deliberate stimulation. That's not a technical term, but what I mean by that is instead of the obvious stimuli that we're bombarded with, that we make a conscious effort to "exercise" those brain cells by reading, learning new things, listening to or playing music, etc.
We all have internal mental stabilizer gyroscopes built in Edu to keep us in balance! It works!!
I appreciate that Edu. You are one of the original greats that was here before I got involved!
Great post, TopAchiever. I agree with you. I don't multitask well...I get overwhelmed if I try, especially with everything we have to assimilate and utilize with WA. I need to take things one step at a time, one at a time. Carol
Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle!
But don't get bogged down with them, apply them when needed you'll be pleasantly surprised when you search for them in the search bar above as and when you need them.
Thanks, TA. I won't. Glad you caught the humor. Always enjoy giving someone a chuckle! Carol
It's great to have some humour along the way.
Not to sure who wrote that response of yours though :-)
It's exactly the feeling I'm having at the moment. Seems like I just get my email cleared out & 5 more come in. I'm thinking about a new blog post, finding affiliate companies (I'm new), and want to complete my training. Where to even start!?!? Thanks for the reminder of trying to stay focused on a task at a time.
Well done for recognizing the fact that you are being pulled in multiple directions all at once.
Yes, stay focused on one task at a time and you'll find you will progress quicker.
It's really hard to stay focused because we have too many choices to make regarding finding out the newest information that will help us blog.
Let me know if you need any further help.
Yes, I was astounded when I taught in South Korea that singing had become the trend to learning English the easy way.
It tends to have more stickability and is better retained.
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I have too many fingers in too many pies and getting nowhere at the moment.
I know that feeling only too well which I believe is why I stagnated, I did not know which way to turn.
The SWAG venture is what is getting me back on track, one task at a time.