Author: Leon Ho / Source: Lifehack
There’s a dark side to the conveniences of the Digital Age. With smartphones that function like handheld computers, it has become increasingly difficult to leave our work behind. Sometimes it seems like we’re expected to be accessible 24/7.
How often are you ever focused on just one thing? Most of us try to meet these demands by multi-tasking.
Many of us have bought into the myth that we can achieve more through multi-tasking. In this article, I’ll show you how you can accomplish more work in less time. Spoiler alert: multi-tasking is not the answer.
Why is multitasking a myth?
The term “multi-tasking” was originally used to describe how microprocessors in computers work. Machines multitask, but people cannot.
Despite our inability to simultaneously perform two tasks at once, many people believe they are excellent multi-taskers.
You can probably imagine plenty of times when you do several things at once. Maybe you talk on the phone while you’re cooking or respond to emails during your commute.
Consider the amount of attention that each of these tasks requires. Chances are, at least one of the two tasks in question is simple enough to be carried out on autopilot.
We’re okay at simultaneously performing simple tasks, but what if you were trying to perform two complex tasks? Can you really work on your presentation and watch a movie at the same time? It can be fun to try to watch TV while you work, but you may be unintentionally making your work more difficult and time-consuming.
Your brain on multi-tasking
Your brain wasn’t designed to multi-tasking.
To compensate, it will switch from task to task. Your focus turns to whatever task seems more urgent. The other task falls into the background until you realize you’ve been neglecting it.When you’re bouncing back and forth like this, an area of the brain known as Broadmann’s Area 10 activates. Located in your fronto-polar prefrontal cortex at the very front of the brain, this area controls your ability to shift focus. People who think they are excellent multitaskers are really just putting Broadmann’s Area 10 to work.
But I can juggle multiple tasks!
You are capable of taking in information with your eyes while doing other things efficiently. Scientifically speaking, making use of your vision is the only thing you can truly do while doing something else.
For everything else, you’re serial tasking. This constant refocusing can be exhausting, and it prevents us from giving our work the deep attention it deserves.
Think about how much longer it takes to do something when you have to keep reminding yourself to focus.
Why multitasking is failing you
Multitasking does more bad than good to your productivity, here’re 4 reasons why you should stop multitasking:
Multitasking wastes your time.
You lose time when you interrupt yourself. People lose an average of 2.1 hours per day getting themselves back on track when they switch between tasks.
In fact, some studies suggest that doing multiple things at once decreases your productivity by as much as 40%. That’s a significant loss in efficiency. You wouldn’t want your surgeon to be 40% less productive while you’re on the operating table, would you?
It makes you dumber.
A distracted brain performs a full 10 IQ points lower than a focused brain. You’ll also be more forgetful, slower at completing tasks, and more likely to make mistakes.
You’ll have to work harder to fix your mistakes. If you miss an important detail, you could risk injury or fail to complete the task properly.
This…
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