Chances are you are familiar with the concept of multitasking, or doing multiple things at once. Unfortunately, multitasking is not the skill we perceive it to be and can actually be quite detrimental to our focus and efficiency.
How many tabs do you have open on your computer right now?
Or, if you’re viewing this on your phone, are/were you in the process of doing anything else before starting to read this?
I’m going to admit, in the time it took me to open a document to start writing this, I jumped tabs to my inbox when I saw new emails come in. Twice. (I’ve gotten better about not keeping my inbox open 24/7 when I’m on my computer and phone, but I’m certainly not perfect!)
We often relate multitasking to our value of productivity; if we juggle multiple things at once, obviously we get more done in that time, right? We also align this with a desire to be busy. If we have so much on our plate that it requires us to do numerous things at the same time, we feel busy, which often leads us to feel fulfilled.
All of this to say it’s quite common to find ourselves reading and responding to an email while also typing out a text and also, maybe, listening to our [spouse, coworker, child, friend] tell us about the absolutely incredible lunch they just had.
Though it’s common, and though we link it to productivity, cognitive research shows that 1) multitasking isn’t actually a thing (at least not in the way we think about it), and 2) when we try to multitask, we actually decrease our attention and efficiency on all the tasks we are trying to do.
When we think of multitasking, we think of focusing on multiple things at once. Cognitive research shows that this understanding isn’t quite true.
Our brains don’t have the capacity to focus on multiple things at once. We focus our attention on one thing, one task. When we are “multitasking” our brains are actually switching attention back and forth between the tasks we’re completing.
This is known as task switching, and is actually quite mentally exhausting.
Not only does task switching use extra amounts of energy for the sake of moving our attention back and forth, it also diminishes our focus on each task.
If you want to see an easy demonstration of this, take a look at The Cost of Task Switching: A Simple Yet Very Powerful Demonstration.
How much do you actually hear about the incredible lunch your friend is telling you about? How grammatically correct is that email you’re trying to send? Who is it that you’re texting again?
When we allow ourselves to multitask in this way, we hurt our productivity, rather than enhancing it. We also expend a lot of unnecessary mental energy on the act of switching from task to task, rather than giving our focus to one task at a time.
Task switching may not make a huge difference in some cases. But say you’re trying to multitask on a project with an upcoming deadline while also catching up on emails. Do you really have the energy to spare on switching back and forth?
Or, say you’re trying to multitask and send a text or email while driving. The split attention of such an act of multitasking could have serious, even life-threatening, consequences.
Changing Multitasking Habits
So what can we do?
Multitasking feels so necessary sometimes, it’s hard to imagine not doing multiple things at once.
In many ways it takes a mindset shift, and a lot of awareness, to get out of the habit of multitasking.
First, we need to solidify our reasons for NOT multitasking. We know it is a detriment to our depth of attention and depletes our mental energy. If we value our efficiency and ability to focus, we know multitasking is not an effective strategy.
Next, we need to become aware of when we’re prone to the juggling act. Do you have a habit of having your email constantly open at work? Does your phone alert you of all sorts of notifications that draw your attention away from projects or conversations? Is the television on when you’re having family conversations?
It takes some time to recognize when multitasking shows up in our lives. Take a couple days to pay attention to your habits and keep notes on your tendencies.
Now we get to review our choices. Some forms of multitasking probably aren’t too much of our focus here. If you find yourself making your morning coffee while waking the kids up while also making breakfast and packing lunches, this might just be what it is. But if this multitasking is resulting is stress or burned breakfasts or forgotten lunches, it may be worth adjusting the routine.
Which multitasking habits do you want to make a priority to change?
Now we create action plans. Once you’ve noted this multitasking habit as a priority, you need a plan in place to shift your behavior. When you find yourself getting into the car and pulling out your phone as you start the engine, stop.
You’ve paused this habit, what are you going to do instead? Have this planned beforehand, so that when the habit appears you are prepared to counter it.
Maybe you can’t start the car until your phone is put away inside your purse or placed on silent, face-down on the floor of the passenger seat. This might mean that you respond to a couple texts before you go. Or you leave the texts for later and respond to them once you’ve arrived at your destination.
When you are tempted to fall into the multitasking habit, remind yourself why you are shifting away from multitasking.
Why are these tasks important to you and why is it important that they have your undivided attention?
This will take some work and, dare I say, focus. But this work will be worth it. The results of changing these multitasking behaviors will likely benefit your performance, your attention, your safety, and your productivity.