Whether it is in the workplace or the home, multitasking is something we all feel the need to do on occasion. Sometimes it’s even a necessity! With so much to do, why wouldn’t we benefit from completing more than one task at once?
In recent years, many researchers have studied multitasking. Their findings are interesting and are important for us to keep in mind when we approach the tasks on our to-do lists.
What is multitasking?
It turns out that multitasking—performing more than one task at a time—isn’t something most of us can actually do. According to neuropsychologists, most of us can’t multitask unless the tasks are simple things that can be completed with very little thought (such as walking while talking on the phone). Tasks that require more focus can’t be completed simultaneously (source). When we work on two (or more) tasks during one period of time, we’re actually serial tasking or task-switching (completing individual actions in rapid succession).
What happens in our brains when we multitask?
The prefrontal cortex of the brain helps keep our attention on a single task by coordinating messages with other brain systems. When we focus on a single task, both sides of the prefrontal cortex are working together. However, when we try to focus on two tasks, the left and right sides of the brain must work independently (source).
What are the practical implications of this?
When our brains must constantly switch back and forth between tasks, it makes us less efficient and more prone to make mistakes (source). Specifically, we tend to forget details and make three times more mistakes when we attempt two simultaneous tasks. Moreover, researchers have found that multitasking can decrease one’s IQ. In one study, researchers had participants multitask during cognitive tasks. They found that male participants experienced IQ drops of 15 points after this multitasking. Researchers have long believed that any impacts on the brain from multitasking were temporary, but new research suggests this may not be the case. They found that individuals who frequently multitask on electronic devices (for example, responding to emails on a computer while reading the news on a smartphone) had less brain density in the anterior cingulate cortex (source). This brain region is responsible for cognitive and emotional control as well as empathy.
Final thoughts
I frequently multitask. When I’ve got dinner cooking on the stove, I’m also watching my kids and working on next week’s grocery list, folding a basket of clothes, and/or trying to read a bit of the news. I feel like there is no way to get it all done if I don’t multitask! However, the information in this post gives me pause. The multitasking may not be as helpful as it seems!
If multitasking is destructive instead of constructive, then how should we go about completing tasks? Experts recommend that we dedicate chunks of time to completing particular tasks. For example, I could spend 15 minutes focused solely on folding the laundry, then move on and spend 12 minutes on the grocery list. After that, I could pivot and work exclusively on dinner. The same principle applies in the workplace. Set aside time each morning for addressing email, then spend 30 minutes working on the presentation for the staff meeting, then focus exclusively on your new project for the next hour.
For additional insights on the impacts of multitasking, visit my sources:
- Multicosts of Multitasking
- To Multitask or Not to Multitask
- Multitasking Damages Your Brain And Career, New Studies Suggest
- Why Multitasking Doesn’t Work
What has been your experience with multitasking? Do you find it helps or harms your ability to get things done? What strategies help you be productive without multitasking?
