I should be called the King of Multitasking. Multitasking is a bad habit that I am trying to outgrow gradually. Today, I will show you how Multitasking affects your productivity!
Imagine you have a toy car and a toy airplane. If you play with both simultaneously, you might be unable to give each toy your full attention. You might crash the car into a wall or forget to fly the airplane properly. Multitasking with toys might not be too bad, but when we try to do too many things at once as grown-ups, we can also make mistakes and not do as well as we could if we focused on one thing at a time.
Your brain is like a big computer with lots of different programs running at the same time. Trying to do too many things at once is like opening too many programs on your computer. The computer can slow down or even crash – this is how people burn out. Similarly, our brains can get overwhelmed, and we might not be able to focus or remember things as well.
How Does Multitasking Affect Your Productivity?
The human brain can absorb an enormous amount of information, up to a million bits at a time. However, its processing capacity is limited to a few dozen bits per second.
Unlike computers, our brains are not designed for parallel processing, which means that when we attempt to multitask, we force our brains to switch between tasks constantly.
This switching process is not only inefficient but also energy-consuming. In other words, when we multitask, we spend more energy alternating between tasks than actually accomplishing them. Therefore, multitasking does not enhance productivity; it is just a drain on our mental resources.
Also Read: All My Articles On Productivity
What is Multitasking?
Multitasking involves juggling different tasks or activities, often completing them in less time or with greater efficiency than if performed sequentially.
Multitasking can take many forms, ranging from simple actions, such as walking and talking, to complex activities, such as writing an email while participating in a conference call.
Multitasking requires a person to switch their attention between different tasks or activities quickly, often within seconds or even milliseconds. This involves shifting focus, adjusting cognitive processes, and deciding which task to prioritize at any given moment.
Is Multitasking Bad?
Yes, multitasking is a bad habit.
Despite the perception that multitasking is an efficient way to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously, studies have shown that our brains are not as proficient at managing multiple tasks as we tend to believe.
Why Do People Multitask?
The frantic desire to promptly attend to everything can prompt multitasking, which may seem like a good habit. But, in reality, it strains your brain and drains you mentally and emotionally, making it challenging to tackle important tasks that demand undivided attention.
Our brains are not equipped for extended periods of multitasking, and as a result, businesses are paying a steep cost in terms of decreased productivity.
Multitasking Will Lead to Mistakes
You will most likely make mistakes when trying to complete multiple tasks at once. Some funny cases are:
- Typing an email with one hand while holding a slice of pizza in the other hand.
- Watching a movie while cooking dinner and accidentally pouring salt instead of sugar into a recipe.
- Listening to a podcast while jogging and accidentally taking a wrong turn and ending up lost.
- Texting while walking, and walking into a pole or stumbling over a curb.
- Brushing your teeth while doing squats, and accidentally spitting toothpaste all over the mirror.
What To Do Instead
I tried something else, and it worked for me. Instead of Multitasking, there’s a better way to meet your deadlines and achieve your goals.
How? Start grouping tasks. That’s more productive!
You can group similar tasks to complete within a specified time. It saves energy because you won’t have to jump back and forth between tasks mentally.
