Why Multitasking is actually making you LESS productive!

Nowadays, everything has to be done as quickly as possible.

We check our social media while making coffee, talk on the phone on our way to work, check our emails while in a meeting, browse the web while eating lunch or listening to a co-worker and go online shopping while watching TV.

Sounds familiar?

We have gotten so used to technology giving us access to everything immediately, we want our brains to function the same way.
So we try to multitask - we operate with different tasks at once and feel like we can get so much more done

Well, recent studies have shown that Multitasking is actually not as productive as we thought.

When we multitaks, we have the impression of executing several tasks simultaneously - right?

But this is what actually happens in our Brain:

We constantly switch from one task to another, and do everything for just a few seconds.

Our Brain can't really do several things at once.

It can simply create the illusion.
After every tiny step we complete, our brain's reward system is being activated and releases dopamine.
This makes us feel like we have already accomplished so much, but in reality we got almost nothing done and were much slower than usual.
When we try to multitask, our cortisol levels actually increase as well - this stress hormone is being released due to the constant pressure, and makes us feel exhausted earlier.

So is Multitasking really slowing us down?

Yes, probably.
Scientists suggest that the constant switching between tasks also uses up our brain's activity, so in the end it makes us complete those tasks at a slower pace.
Real multitasking can only be done if one of the tasks can be run on autopilot - for example walking. But even then, we sometimes struggle.
Only 2% of the world population are so-called "supertaskers" and can really complete several tasks at once.
A study from the University of London has even shown that it can even lower your IQ up to 15 points, and decrease your mental abilities to the level of an 8-year old!

What could we do instead of multitasking to improve our performance?

Of course the most important tip would be to focus on one task only. But we know that this can be quite hard to do in real life.
That's why you should manage your time wisely, make a to-do list, and prioritize.

You should plan 3-4 "power-working" slots in your day - time intervals of 30-60 minutes where you only do work, nothing else.

If you're really serious about this, you should even switch off your electronic devices for these time slots.
To help you focus, you should either work in complete silence, or listening to calming music (preferrably classical or instrumental) with noise-canceling headphones (especially when you have co-workers talking around you).

In a daily life situation, this won't go as smoothly as planned - you will probably get interrupted at some point. And that's okay, you just know how to deal with it.
So if someone interrupts your work flow, try to finish at least part of your task before switching to something else.
Or write down a quick note to help you remember your thoughts or what you were planning to do before you got interrputed.

So the next time you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try planning your time effectively and prioritizing instead of wanting to finish everything at once!

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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