Attempting to accomplish several tasks simultaneously is creating much depression among people today. Productivity is a buzzword that has everyone driving themselves into an uncontrolled frenzy, trying to do more things at once than is humanly possible. Some people call it multitasking, but the truth is that it’s a myth that multitasking is effective. If anything, multitasking is costing you effective productive time. Some studies reveal that multitasking decreases productivity by approximately 50 percent or more.
Multitasking Costs You IQ Points
Trying to do more than one thing at a time makes you perform as well as you would if you were drunk, using drugs, or losing some of your smarts. That is the worst thing that you can do if you want to be a top performer in anything. Whether it’s parenting, business, or something else, you get about as much from it as you put into it. So, if you focus 100 percent on one activity at-a-time, you’ll be 100 percent more productive and effective in your action.
Multitasking Makes You Less Creative
Tuning out the noise around you can increase your productivity and creativity levels. It’s tough to get into a rhythm if the phone is ringing, the kids are interrupting, or the beeps and the dings of social media interrupt your train of thought. You not only need time to concentrate on a project, but you also need time to focus elsewhere between projects to cleanse your brain a bit before moving on to the next task or activity.
Multitasking Is Risky
Not only is multitasking hazardous to your health in that it can make you ill, but it’s also unsafe for your well-being. If you are driving and talking on the phone (or, as is popular with some YouTube stars, making videos while driving), you are putting yourself in harm’s way. You would not get behind a wheel drunk, so don’t get behind it and do anything but drive. Likewise, when doing anything, focus on the task at hand, and you’ll be less stressed, translating into being healthier.
Your Brain Doesn’t Work That Way
No matter how you want it to work, no one’s brain can focus on more than one thing at a time. Yes, of course, you can talk and walk at the same time, but texting and talking is not something you should do. Writing a letter, spending time with your kids, focusing on data entry, and making sales calls should all be done individually. If you learn to make your to-do list with this in mind, you’ll get more done faster, and your work quality will increase enormously.
You Need 15 Minutes to Adjust to a New Task
A Microsoft study showed that when you’re interrupted by something like an email message, a beep from a phone, or by someone physically interrupting you, it can take 15 minutes to get back on task – meaning to get back into the rhythm where you’re performing the task at the highest level that you can do it. It’s essential to keep this in mind as you plan your day if you want to accomplish tasks at your maximum ability.
Closing Thoughts
Don’t fall for the idea that multitasking is a proficiency that you should strive for. It’s not a good idea for anyone to multitask. It’s not good for your brain, and it’s bad for your work.
Thank you for reading this post. If it has helped you in any way, you learned something new, or you have something to add, please leave a comment below.
