Think Youre Multitasking? Think Again - Psychology in the News

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Multitasking seems like a groovy way to get a lot done at one time, but research has shown that our brains are not near as practiced at handling multiple tasks equally we like to call up they are. In fact, some research suggests that multitasking can actually hamper your productivity past reducing your comprehension, attending, and overall functioning.

What is it that makes multitasking such a productivity killer? It might seem similar you are accomplishing multiple things at the same time, but what you are really doing is quickly shifting your attention and focus from one thing to the side by side. Switching from one task to another may make it hard to melody out distractions and can cause mental blocks that can slow you downwards.

What Is Multitasking?

• Working on two or more tasks simultaneously
• Switching back and along from one matter to some other
• Performing a number of tasks in rapid succession

How Multitasking Hampers Productivity

Multitasking takes a serious toll on productivity. Our brains lack the ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time—in moments where we recollect nosotros're multitasking, we're likely just switching apace from task to chore. Focusing on a unmarried task is a much more than effective approach for several reasons.

Multitasking Is Distracting

Multitaskers may feel more distracted than people who focus on i job at a time. This makes sense when you consider that, past habit, multitaskers constantly refocus on a new task, finer distracting themselves from their original assignment.

Some research suggests that multitaskers are more distractible, and they may have problem focusing their attention even when they're non working on multiple tasks at once. Other research shows that while at that place may be a connexion between multitasking and distraction, that link is smaller than originally thought and varies quite a flake from person to person.

Multitasking Slows You lot Down

While information technology may seem contrary to pop conventionalities, we tend to work slower and less efficiently when we multitask. Multitasking leads to what psychologists call "chore switch costs," or the negative effects that come up from switching from task to job. Nosotros run across task switch costs (like a slower working pace) because of the increased mental demand that's associated with jumping from one matter to another.

Changing our focus also keeps us from relying on automatic behaviors to finish tasks rapidly. When nosotros're focused on a single task that we've done earlier, we tin work on "autopilot," which frees upwardly mental resources. Switching back and forth bypasses this process, and we tend to work more slowly as a effect.

Multitasking Impairs Executive Function

Multitasking is managed by executive functions in the brain. These control and manage cognitive processes and make up one's mind how, when, and in what order certain tasks are performed. There are ii stages to the executive control process:

1. Goal shifting: Deciding to practise one thing instead of another
2. Rule activation: Changing from the rules for the previous task to the rules for the new chore

Moving through these stages may only add a few tenths of a 2d, but it can start to add upward when people switch back and forth repeatedly. This might not be a big deal when you are folding laundry and watching tv set at the same time. Still, if yous are in a situation where safety or productivity is important, such as when you lot are driving in heavy traffic, fifty-fifty minor amounts of time can show disquisitional.

Multitaskers Make Mistakes

Multitasking may lower your operation and make yous more decumbent to making mistakes. Inquiry has shown that students who multitask in class tend to accept lower GPAs (and, if they continue multitasking at domicile, they often take longer to finish their homework).

Adults may likewise feel lower performance while multitasking. One 2018 study found that older adults were likely to make more than mistakes while driving if they were multitasking.

Encephalon Function in Multitaskers

Doing several different things at once can impair cerebral ability, fifty-fifty for people who multitask ofttimes. In fact, enquiry suggests that people tend to overestimate their ability to multitask, and the people who appoint in this habit about frequently oftentimes lack the skills needed to be constructive at it.

Chronic multitaskers tend to bear witness more than impulsivity than their peers, and they may be more probable to downplay possible risks associated with tackling multiple things at once. They also seem to bear witness lower levels of executive control and are often distracted easily.

Limited cognitive resource may be involved in this phenomenon. Several networks in the brain interact to guide our behavior whenever we set up out to consummate a chore. This behavior includes:

• Setting a goal
• Identifying the information we need to achieve it
• Disregarding irrelevant distractions

When we endeavour to appoint in this procedure for multiple tasks at once, it tin lead to cognitive errors. Nosotros might fail to disregard irrelevant information, for instance, which would pb to more distraction.

The research isn't clear on the exact human relationship between multitasking and brain function. It's possible that chronic multitasking changes the brain over time, leading to more than distractibility and bug with focus, or it may be that people with these traits are more likely to multitask in the first place.

Teens and Multitasking

The negative touch of chronic, heavy multitasking might be particularly detrimental to adolescent minds. At this age, brains are decorated forming important neural connections. Spreading attending so thin and constantly being distracted by different streams of data might have a serious, long-term, negative bear on on how these connections grade.

Media Multitasking

Some research suggests that people who engage in media multitasking (using more than one form of media or type of technology at in one case) might be amend at integrating visual and auditory information. In 1 study, participants between the ages of xix and 28 were asked to complete questionnaires regarding their media usage. The participants then completed a visual search chore both with and without a audio to indicate when an detail inverse color.

Heavy multitaskers performed amend on the search when the sound was presented, indicating that they were more adept at integrating the two sources of sensory information. Conversely, heavy multitaskers performed worse than calorie-free/medium multitaskers when the tone was not present.

Intermission the Multitasking Addiction

If you experience like multitasking is negatively impacting your life, information technology is possible to make some changes that will increment your productivity and efficiency. Adjacent time you notice yourself multitasking, accept a quick assessment of the diverse things you are trying to attain. Then, make up one's mind which task you need to focus on commencement. Try to:

• Limit the number of things you juggle at whatsoever given time to only one task. If you lot do need to piece of work on multiple things at in one case, effort to combine something automated, similar folding laundry, with something that requires more focus, like having a conversation.
• Employ the "20-minute rule." Instead of constantly switching between tasks, try to fully devote your attention to ane task for twenty minutes before switching to the other.
• Batch your tasks. If you're having trouble resisting the urge to check your e-mail or appoint in another distracting job, schedule a set time in your day to tackle information technology. By batching similar tasks together and setting a fourth dimension to handle them, y'all can costless your mind up to focus on something else.
• Limit distractions. This may mean seeking out a quieter place to work, switching your phone off, and turning off notifications and alarms.
• Practice mindfulness. Adding mindfulness to your daily routine may help you find the times when you're multitasking. Mindfulness can also better your ability to focus and pay attention to one thing at a fourth dimension.

Working on one job at a time may assistance you become more productive and it may brand each task more enjoyable.

Ofttimes Asked Questions

Is multitasking bad for your health?

Aye, it can be. Multitasking may reduce your power to focus, increase feelings of stress, and exacerbate impulsiveness. It can likewise worsen your functioning at work or school, which can lead to further negative feelings and anxiety.

What does it mean if someone has trouble multitasking?

It means that, similar near of u.s., their brain isn't wired to piece of work on multiple circuitous tasks simultaneously. We perform much better when we focus fully on one thing at a time.

Should I add multitasking as a skill on my resume?

You should consider whether or not yous're really able to multitask before adding information technology to your resume. We have a tendency to overestimate our ability to multitask, and fifty-fifty people who think they're skilled in this area often make mistakes or work inefficiently.

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Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/multitasking-2795003