According to the Oxford English Dictionary, multitasking is “the performance of multiple tasks simultaneously.” Most of us are familiar with this concept in everyday life, as well as in our workplaces and school environments.
In fact, we’re so accustomed to viewing it positively that a study led by researchers at Stanford University found that almost half of all American adults believed that being able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously is a sign of intelligence.
However, what if everything we know about multitasking is actually false? What if it isn’t a skill but rather a habit that has adverse effects on our brains? The truth is: It does have negative implications for your brain, especially when it comes to matters of focus.
When you have a lot to get done and little time to do it, the natural instinct is to multitask. When you can’t focus on a single project for an extended period of time or when several projects demand your attention at once, the only logical solution is to juggle them all at once, right?
While many people think that juggling several tasks at once helps them accomplish more in a shorter amount of time.
But multitasking might be bad for your brain. The truth is that our brains aren’t designed to operate in this way. In fact, studies show that our brains perform much better when we focus on one task at a time.
Multitasking drains your brain of energy and makes you less productive than if you focus on one task at a time. To see how it affects your own brain and productivity levels, keep reading for the details about how multitasking affects your brain’s ability to focus . . .
What Does Research Say About Multitasking?
Researchers have been studying multitasking and its effects on the brain for decades. And while the results of these studies are nothing short of alarming, they should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever attempted to juggle multiple tasks at once.
The studies show that when you try to do two things at once, your brain has to work much harder than if you were to focus on one thing at a time.
So when you’re juggling multiple tasks, your brain has to spend more energy switching between tasks than if you were to focus on one thing at a time. Researchers have shown that multitasking slows down your reaction time and impairs your ability to retain information.
It drains your energy, increases stress and impairs your ability to focus on a single task. So not only does multitasking make you less productive, but it also makes you less effective at your job.
Why is Multitasking Bad for Your Brain?
When you try to multitask, your brain has to switch back and forth between tasks. While this sounds harmless, the reality is that this back and forth can actually cause long-term damage to your brain.
When you try to do two things at once, your brain has to focus on each task separately. As a result, your brain actually has to work harder to complete these tasks than if you were to focus on one thing at a time. How does this happen?
Well, your brain is made up of lots of different systems that process and store information. When you focus on one task, your prefrontal cortex helps you maintain your focus on that task. But when you try to multitask, your prefrontal cortex has to divide its attention between each task.
When your brain has to divide its attention between two (or more) tasks, your prefrontal cortex has less energy and capability to process information. Since your prefrontal cortex helps you think logically, plan and make good decisions, this reduced energy means you’re less likely to make smart choices.
How Does Multitasking Affect Your Brain?
When you try to multitask, your brain has to switch back and forth between tasks. So your brain works harder than if you were to focus on one task at a time. This extra energy required to switch between tasks is known as “cognitive overload”. When your brain experiences cognitive overload, it has less energy to process information and make good decisions.
This leaves you feeling exhausted, stressed and less productive than if you had focused on one task at a time. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain has to split its attention between both tasks.
The extra energy that your brain has to devote to switching between tasks leaves you less focused, less productive and stressed out.
The Bad News: Multitasking Has a Negative Impact on your Working Memory and Focus
The prefrontal cortex is the section of your brain responsible for helping you focus. When you try to juggle multiple tasks at once, the prefrontal cortex has to divide its attention between each one. When the prefrontal cortex has to split its attention between multiple tasks, it has less energy to focus on each task.
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This means that you’ll have a hard time concentrating on any single task. Since your prefrontal cortex controls your working memory, it also means that you’ll have a harder time remembering things.
When your prefrontal cortex can’t focus on one task, it results in a lower attention span, a loss of focus and a reduction in your working memory. This makes it much harder to concentrate on the task at hand and remember information that you need to do your job effectively.
The Good News: You Can Train Your Brain to Focus Again
It’s not all bad news, though. The good news is that you can train your brain to focus again. If you’ve gotten into the habit of multitasking, it’s important to retrain your brain to focus on one task at a time. In order to rewire your brain to focus on one task at a time, you should try to avoid multitasking whenever possible. This means setting aside time for each of your tasks so that you’re not constantly switching from one to the other.
Multitasking and Distraction
Distraction is one of the biggest reasons why you shouldn’t multitask. When you try to do too many things at once, you’re much more likely to get distracted and lose focus on your original task. While you might think that you can easily switch from one task to the other, the truth is that it takes more effort to transition between tasks.
It takes time for your brain to shift gears and refocus on a new task. During this transition period, you’re likely to feel distracted by the other tasks that you were trying to juggle. This means that you’ll take longer to complete your tasks and you’ll make more mistakes.
Multitasking and a Loss of Memory
While switching between tasks is bound to diminish your capacity for focus and attention, it also has a negative effect on your memory. If you try to multitask while working on a task that requires lots of memorization, such as writing or reading, you’re likely to lose focus on the things you’ve been trying to remember.
During the transition period between tasks, you’re more likely to forget the things you’ve been trying to retain. This happens because your brain isn’t fully engaged in either task. When you’re multitasking and trying to retain information from a single task, you’re likely to remember less than if you focus on that task alone.
Advantages of Multitasking
There are some advantages to multitasking. For example, multitasking can help you manage your time better by helping you get more done in a shorter period of time. However, these advantages aren’t worth the negative consequences of multitasking.
When you’re multitasking, you’re more likely to make mistakes and take longer to finish your work. In fact, there are many disadvantages to multitasking. You’re likely to experience more stress, reduced creativity, and a lower quality of work. You’re also more likely to feel overwhelmed and have a harder time focusing on any one thing.
Dangers of Multitasking
Research also indicates that people who are more prone to multitasking are more likely to experience anxiety and a lower sense of well-being. In fact, people who multitask on a regular basis are more likely to suffer from a higher level of stress and exhaustion than those who don’t multitask at all.
A lot of people believe that they can multitask without any consequences. The truth is that multitasking can be very dangerous. It can make you less productive, cause stress, and even affect your relationships.
Why Focusing on One Task at a Time is More Productive
When you try to focus on multiple tasks at once, your attention is split among those tasks. When you split your attention between multiple tasks, your brain has a harder time focusing on any single one of them. When you try to focus on multiple tasks at once, your attention is split.
This means that you’re unable to completely focus on any of the tasks because your brain isn’t fully engaged in any of them. This reduced level of engagement means that you’re less likely to finish your tasks with excellence. You’re also more likely to make mistakes and have difficulty finishing your work quickly.