Multitasking is all the rage these days. More and more people are getting a kick out of being able to multitask.
Like, for instance, they might be doing their homework while blasting some non-instrumental tunes, or working on a project while chatting on the phone and watching TV at the same time.
I love hanging out in a WhatsApp group with my buddies and doing all sorts of fun stuff together. But, the thing is, most multitaskers are usually not very good at it.
Have you ever tried writing an email while chatting on the phone? Do you wanna watch a movie with subtitles while watching the original version? How were you feeling, dude? No doubt, it's been tough for you to juggle both tasks at the same time.
Being all over the place and trying to do too many things at once is usually linked to having a hard time focusing. Why though? Every time you go from task 1 to task 2, your brain kinda takes a break from task 1 to focus on task 2. When you switch back to task 1, it kinda disconnects from task 2 and then reconnects to task 1 after a short delay. So, like, your ability to concentrate might be messed up. So, you won't have much power to make things happen.
Did you know that people who use their phones while driving remember way less stuff on the road, like 30 to 50% less, compared to those who don't? Oh, there was this study in France that showed this. Why though? They're less focused. So, they can't really do driving stuff well.
Can you tell me how to stay on top of things and get stuff done when you're feeling tired and can't focus?
This factor is like, super closely connected to factor 1. You know, it might sound weird, but multitasking can actually mess with your brainpower. Like I said before, constantly switching between tasks totally wears out your brain cells. When your brain cells are tired, it's just a matter of time before your smarts start to suffer.
So, there were these researchers at the University of London who did a study back in 2010. They looked at about 1,100 workers who were always doing a bunch of things on their electronic devices at the same time. And guess what? The study actually supported the idea that multitasking like that can have an impact. Pretty interesting, right? So, like, this study found that the drop in IQ for these folks was way faster than for people who smoke weed.
Do you think that when your brain isn't working at its best, it's harder to get stuff done and be productive?
Trying to do multiple things at once has never been shown to make you work better, as these three points show. I use the word "myth" 'cause it's like something that's just an illusion, ya know? Just start learning now, and, like, make sure you focus on one thing at a time to really get good at it.