We live in an age where ‘multitasking’ has become almost a necessity. We are able to carry out many tasks at once, and we often find ourselves doing not just one, but two, three, or even five things simultaneously. Yes, it works, provided that these activities do not interfere with one another and are straightforward. One engages the eyes and hands, the other – the ears and the mind. It’s true – you can listen to music whilst cooking or read a book whilst travelling by bus… But this isn’t multitasking, merely combining activities that don’t require the same level of attention. A good example is women, mothers raising children.
The problem is that people aren’t computers. Our brains work a bit differently – instead of doing everything at once, they switch from one activity to another. The brain bounces like a ping-pong ball between one task and another. And every such switch costs us attention and energy.
I, too, sometimes catch myself doing ‘everything at once’.
The problem arises when we try to do two things that require concentration – for example, talking and writing at the same time. That’s when the quality drops.
‘Multitasking’ can be harmful – operating in ‘all at once’ mode for a prolonged period means that: our concentration wanes, we tire more quickly, stress levels rise,
and our relationships with others suffer, because the other person can see that we are not fully present.
The key to “multitasking” is to focus on one thing.