Multitasking is already a part of our routines. We’re doing it all the time. We watch television, surf the internet and eat our meals all at the same time. That is just one example. While many of us indulge in many activities all at the same time thinking that we’re actually saving time, the fact is that multitasking makes us less efficient.
- Multitasking slows down your memory.
Our compulsion to multitask may sabotage our memory. According to a research done by the professionals at University of California San Francisco, multitasking negatively impacts our short-term memory. A person’s working memory is what allows you to remember crucial work headlines and dental appointments. Thus, if you find yourself forgetting your mom’s phone number or an important conference date, you can blame your multitasking habit for those memory lapses.
- Multitasking results in poor-quality work.
Did you just fail to commit 100% of your focus to an important undertaking? Well, you’re also increasing room for more errors. According to Margaret Moore and Paul Hammerness, Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life authors, multitasking increases the chances of making mistakes, or even missing crucial details. While the urge to quickly switch in between tasks might make you feel like a productivity hero, it’s actually resulting in low-quality work than what you’re capable of creating.
- Multitasking actually makes you less productive.
How can doing three things at the same time make you less productive? You’re actually not doing three things simultaneously. As per scientists, that’s nearly impossible. Instead, what you’re doing is quickly switching in between three tasks. You jump from cleaning the kitchen, to emailing people and so forth. Not so bad? Constant switching is counted as interruption. You’re destroying your focus from one job, and giving it to another. Those constant disruptions come at high costs. Research says that it takes around 15 seconds and 23 minutes to refocus on an interrupted original task. Look, if you switch four times every work day, you’re spending close to an hour trying to get yourself committed to another project. Not so productive, right?
- Multitasking makes you feel exhausted.
How does hopping back and forth in between assignments and emails make you feel? Your heart quickens and you feel stressed. At the end of the day, you’ll feel like you’ve never accomplished anything. Compare that to spending two focused, dedicated hours to making huge progress on a project. Try that. Now, how do you feel after that session? Probably a lot different.
- Multitasking kills creativity.
If you multitask on a regular basis, your creative engagements are negatively impacted. To get into the depths of productivity, there must be undivided dedication and attention. For instance, don’t check your chats while working on a difficult problem. It’s fine to take a break, respond to messages, and start working again.
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