Why Multitasking Is A Myth, Backed By Science
There’s a better way to be productive
When I was 19 years old, I used to keep myself busy for about 15 hours a day. I woke up at 5 AM for rowing practice, went to class, studied, worked two jobs, and made time for recreational activities. Through all of this, I always found myself trying to complete multiple tasks at once to remain “productive”. I figured this was the best way to get things done and would pay dividends in the long run. As I’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly evident that I was wrong.
While the urge to multitask is alluring, there is evidence supporting its ineffectiveness and negative impact on our mental state.
In reality, we are never truly multitasking. While it may feel like you are successfully completing two or three objectives at once, it is far more likely that that the brain is processing individual actions in rapid succession.
Like the pictures in a flip book, our focus is discrete. It is only with time and motion that our fluttering attention gains the illusion of multitasking.
That start-stop process actually costs us time and efficiency, leaves us more prone to making mistakes, and can be incredibly…
