Bust the myth of multitasking and focus on one task at a time

In this article, we are going to bust the myth of multitasking. The human brain simply isn't capable of splitting itself into two distinct compartments.

Since the invention of the computer, people have been told that multitasking is a great way to get more done. The problem is that this myth is just that – a myth.

We've all been there. You're at work and have a long list of things to do. You have a deadline approaching, but that's not the only thing on your mind. There are emails to answer, reports to complete, meetings to attend...the list goes on and on. So what do you do? Do you try multitasking? If so, it's time for a reality check!

The myth of multitasking

The myth of multitasking is based on the assumption that you can do more than one thing simultaneously. In reality, your brain has a limited capacity to process information, and when you try to do too much at once, it can’t handle all of your tasks effectively. This means you will have to spend extra energy trying to keep up with what’s happening around you.

The Myth of Multitasking

How “Doing It All” Gets Nothing Done

• Project Management and Time Management Skills

• Multitasking Doesn’t Work—Learn What Does!

• Productivity and effective time management end with multitasking.

• Learn how to actually get things done. 

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The problem with multitasking is that it leads us into a state known as “continuous partial attention.” In this unfocused mental state, we constantly switch between tasks and activities without being fully present in any single activity. This causes us stress because our brains are always working hard to stay up with what’s happening around them (and keeping track of multiple conversations at once).

What is The Reality of Multitasking?

Multitasking is a lie. Or at least it's a lie we've been telling ourselves for years.

The truth is, there's no such thing as multitasking. When we're doing something, we're focused on it 100%. We might be able to do two things at once — put on lipstick while driving, or read a book while standing in line at the grocery store — but our brains can't process two things at once. Instead, we switch back and forth between tasks so quickly that it looks like we're doing both at once.

But this kind of rapid task-switching isn't efficient or effective; it takes up a lot of mental energy without actually accomplishing much. And it can be downright dangerous when you're driving or operating heavy machinery (or even just walking down the street).

So here's what happens when you try to multitask: Your brain has to keep track of which task it was doing before and which one it's doing now. It also has to remember what came next in each task so that you know where to pick up where you left off when you switch back to that task later on. That requires a lot of mental energy and processing power — resources that could otherwise be spent on more critical tasks.

The bottom line? Multitasking is a myth. And the sooner you accept the myth of multitasking the better off you'll be in terms of productivity and safety.

Why do we still believe multitasking works?

Your brain is used to multitasking. After all, most people do at least 10 different things at once every day: brushing their teeth, making a cup of coffee, listening to music, and checking email. And it's not just our modern world that promotes multitasking; in fact, early civilization was more efficient when hunter-gatherers performed multiple tasks simultaneously—for example, throwing a spear while watching for predators.

Even though we may have been successfully multi-tasking since the Stone Age, research shows that we're bad at it! Researchers have found that the human mind cannot focus on two things at once (in other words: there are no superhumans out there who can read this article while also finishing their taxes). Instead of being able to concentrate on two tasks simultaneously, our brains switch between them rapidly—and each time we switch from one task to another takes about 50 milliseconds or less (which adds up to about 45 seconds per hour!).

What does this mean for you? While your brain might be able to handle several activities at once without much difficulty (like typing an email while watching TV), trying too hard will only result in lower productivity and higher stress levels over time.

Switching between tasks is costly.

The cost of switching between tasks is not just in the time it takes you to get back into the zone. You also need to re-engage with the task and remember what you were doing and where you were. This can be a lot easier when working on one thing at a time because there’s no reason to switch between things.

If I am writing an email, for example, if I switch away from writing that email for even five minutes, then when I come back to write again, all my focus has moved on to something else (maybe another task). This means that instead of being able to continue with my train of thought from before, I have now lost all context around what was happening and how far along in this process my email was!

Multitasking can become a habit.

Multitasking is a habit, and habits are hard to break. You might have learned that habit when you were young and had so much energy you simply couldn't stop moving for hours on end, but now it's an ingrained part of your life. It's not always easy to change habits—ask anyone who has tried to quit smoking or lose weight!

Luckily, there are ways to retrain yourself so that multitasking doesn't become automatic. If you want to get rid of the habit altogether and focus exclusively on one task at a time (which will make you more productive), there are three steps:

• First, identify what triggers your desire to multitask in the first place—it could be boredom or anxiety about something else going on in your life right now; whatever it is, recognize what's triggering it so you can address it later on.

• Second, start small by eliminating small things from one area at a time instead of trying to fix everything all at once. For example: maybe instead of staying up until 2 am every night watching Netflix shows while looking at Facebook posts from friends' lives as they unfold online (ahem), try putting down the remote after each episode finishes playing through until bedtime rolls around. Again tomorrow morning? Maybe instead of texting back-and-forth with two people simultaneously while walking upstairs after work today... don't text anyone but focus solely on walking up those stairs safely?

You may need to relearn how to focus.

Multitasking is a myth, and we may need to relearn how to focus.

The way we use the term today, multitasking is the attempt to do two or more things at once — for example, speaking on the phone while writing an email. But this definition makes it seem like there's an optimal way of doing things simultaneously that only certain people can accomplish. Your brain doesn't work like that. Multitasking means switching between tasks quickly, which takes time and energy — so much so that you might as well be doing one thing at a time anyway!

To help you focus on what's most important right now:

Be aware of your attention span.

When you're a student, your attention span is probably shorter than when you were younger. That's how things work! However, there are ways to increase your attention span:

• Meditation

• Exercise

• Change in diet (cutting out caffeine)

If you want to write a novel, for example, then your attention span should be great enough for that task. You might feel like writing something else at the same time, but if it doesn't help with improving the quality of your writing, then don't do it!

Permit yourself to focus on one thing at a time.

The first step is to focus on one task at a time.

How much attention do you have? Think about it this way: If you’re reading this article, how much attention do you have left over to read the next paragraph? The answer is probably not much because your “attention span” has already been used up by reading this one. And the longer your article is and the more distracted you are by other things in your life, the shorter your remaining attention span will become—and thus, the harder it will be for you to stay focused on anything but what’s right in front of your face at that moment.

One task at a time improves productivity, well-being, and quality of life.

There's a lot of research about how multitasking is inefficient and makes you less productive. However, it's not just that multitasking causes inefficiency—it also creates stress and decreases your well-being.

When trying to do two things at once, you're more likely to feel stressed and worried about how much time you have left before deadlines, which can make for a stressful day at work. This stress can increase blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems. The Office Worker's Health Study found that people who work 60 hours or more per week have an increased risk of developing diabetes compared with those who work 40 hours per week or less.

Another study revealed that employees who are happiest with their jobs tend to spend less time multi-tasking than those who are unhappy.

Bust the myth that you can do more than one thing at the same time.

Instead, start doing one task at a time to improve productivity and quality of life.

It is a myth that you can do more than one thing simultaneously. Multitasking makes us less productive and drains our energy. It's also costly in terms of money and quality of life.

The reason why we think we can multitask is that it has become a habit. Soon enough, we are used to doing several things at once without even realizing how much time we waste on all those combined activities!

But the truth is that you can't multitask. You might be able to switch between tasks, but that's all. When you try to do more than one thing at a time, you end up doing them poorly and taking longer than if you had just done one task at a time.

Mind wandering might be the closest thing we have to multitasking. Multitasking doesn’t really exist. Research on multitasking shows that we don’t really do more than one task at a time.

from How to Get People to Do Stuff: Master the art and science of persuasion and …
by Susan Weinschenk

How to Get People to Do Stuff

Master the art and science of persuasion and motivation

• The more choices people have the more regret they feel about the choice they pick

• If you are going to use a reward, give the reward continuously at first

• If you want people to act independently, then make a reference to money

• If you want people to remember something, make sure it is at the beginning or end

• If you are using feedback to increase the desire for mastery keep the feedback objective, and don’t include praise.

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So how can you improve your productivity and quality of life by busting the multitasking myth? The first step is to realize that you can't do it and give up before you start. Next, set boundaries for yourself. Set specific times during the day and week when you will focus on one task and not multi-task. Finally, reward yourself for completing one task successfully instead of trying to do multiple tasks simultaneously.

Can I Do Multitasking If I Want To?

No, emphatically. Multitasking causes you trouble. When you multitask, your productivity and performance deteriorate.

Multitasking consumes time because your transition between things slows you down and wastes time.

It also leads to errors and misunderstandings because you cannot pay attention to one thing at a time.

Multitasking also diminishes your ability to learn new things. You won't be able to focus on the task at hand if you constantly switch between tasks.

What Are The Problems With Multitasking?

 Multitasking is a myth. The human brain can't do it.

The brain is a wonderful organ that enables us to think, remember, feel, and be aware of our surroundings. But it's not designed to do two or more things at once. It can't juggle several tasks at once without getting confused or distracted by the irrelevant information coming in through our eyes and ears.

We're not really multitasking at all — we're switching back and forth between tasks. This constant task-switching is exhausting and inefficient because every time you switch from one task to another, there's a short pause while your brain catches up with what you are doing now. And every time you have to shift gears sets off a cascade of other effects: cognitive fatigue, difficulty concentrating on what's essential, missing key details in the new task, and misinterpreting incoming data as a result (since your brain is still focused on the old task).

Multitasking is also bad for your health. People chronically trying to do several things at once tend to have more stress hormones coursing through their bodies than those who work in uninterrupted sessions. Multitasking can make you sick!

Conclusion

The reality of multitasking is that it is impossible to do two or more tasks simultaneously and be successful. You will do them less efficiently and effectively when you try to multitask.

Multitasking is not a great way to get more done and can decrease productivity and performance. You can focus on one task at a time and maximize your productivity and performance.

We live in a world where multitasking is done daily, especially for work and school. But the myth that we can do more than one thing at a time must be busted. It improves your productivity, well-being, and quality of life.

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