Many individuals are proud of their willingness to do more than one job at the same time, claiming that this tactic saves time and makes them more efficient. Do you still multi-task? Is it possible to involve our minds in more than one assignment at a time? What does science suggest, more specifically, about multitasking?
Multitasking is not as successful as some people say, according to science. Numerous studies have shown, for instance, that doing more than one assignment at a time can lead to serious consequences, including car accidents. Think of those who make phone calls while driving, or check text messages.
Why does trouble cause multitasking? The "prefrontal cortex" is recognized as the portion of the brain responsible for thought, organizing, and making important decisions. A report published in the journal Nature states that the prefrontal cortex determines the stimuli or knowledge we pay attention to. This means that it allows one to concentrate on a single goal and get rid of any other distractions. As a result, when we try to do several things, our minds are burdened and our capacity to concentrate is lost, leading to "divided attention" or "no attention at all."
Yet, when doing tasks that do not require thought or preparation, such as physical activities, you can always multitask; you can walk and listen to music at the same time, for example. "Muscle memory" includes behaviors that allow multitasking, where the body knows what it has to do without thinking.
Now, when we perform various tasks, how does the brain behave? The brain does not concurrently perform tasks; it moves from one task to another instead. This is a time-consuming and energy-consuming process; you always need time to turn back from one task to another. Think of the time you spend going back and forth between two items, which if you have done separately, you would have done better and in less time.
If you think you're doing a favor for yourself, like being smarter, when you multitask, I bet you should rethink this because science says multitasking does the exact opposite. Multitasking, in reality, makes you lose the focus and concentration needed for a proper learning experience. Moreover, you risk repeating your job or efforts when you multitask, simply because you can make errors easily.
Science also suggests that multitasking destroys creativity, since in order to create better thoughts, ideas, etc., creativity requires full attention. Multitasking also has adverse consequences for our physical wellbeing. When the tension of those who multitask and those who do not, was calculated by study at the University of California Irvine, it turned out that those who multitask had higher heartbeat rates. Another big drawback to multitasking is that what is happening around you is not given enough consideration.
So, if you're a multitasking guy, maybe it's time to stop. Try to see for yourself how more active, more imaginative, and happier you can become.