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Do you ever remember having a meal while catching up on an episode of your favorite movie series? That was multitasking at the basic level.
Although multitasking is frequently used in the world of computer technology, it also means humans performing two or more tasks, concurrently.
The main aim of multitasking is to complete tasks in half the time since we only have 24 hours per day.
The effectiveness of multitasking has been a source of debate: there are those who swear by it and there are those who violently condemn it, but in this article, we will walk you through the pros and cons of multitasking, and how you can use it to better your life.
Multitasking: The good and the bad
The one major advantage that all multitaskers have been trying to drum into the ears of anyone that cares to listen is that multi-tasking helps them tick off their to-do list in half the time.
That is like working 4-hour days instead of the standard 8-hour days or is it?
Psychologists argue that the brain was designed to focus on only one activity at a time. The frontal part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex fires up when faced with an activity. Both the right and left sides of the prefrontal cortex work in synergy to ensure focus and completion of the task at hand.
In the case whereby a person engages in multiple activities, the result would be dwindled focus and reduced productivity.
Also, the brain experiences “gear shifts” when switching between activities. During the gear shifting time, the brain orients itself with the details of the new activity, that is to refocus.
Trying to do two things simultaneously translates to constant and repetitive gear shifts. This leads to wasted time and increased mental fatigue, and will result in a far lower yield than what would have been accomplished if all attention and focus had been directed to a sole activity.
There is a clause to this, one that stands as a strong point for all of those who are pro-multitasking, and that is the above mental gear shift and refocusing only happens in scenarios whereby the paired activities are both mentally demanding.
Think back to moments when you probably had performed chores and listened to a podcast at the same time. Doing chores requires less mental effort and more physical effort. Listening to a podcast on the other hand required a higher amount of mental effort and zero physical effort. This makes them an effective duo and can be safely combined.
This proves multitasking is a great way to increase productivity but only when you play by the rules.
How to multitask
- Pair similar tasks
Those gaps in time the brain uses to get its bearings on a new activity will be significantly reduced if the details of the tasks are the same or similar.
A good example of this is reading and journaling or writing. Some differences separate both tasks but at the core of both activities lay a basic brain pathway- processing information.
When writing, the brain processes information to put into text, and in reading, the brain processes information taken in through text.
In both activities, the brain’s neural pathways fire up the information processing centers and that makes them suitable to be combined.
- Combine familiar activities
When we encounter something relatively new: whether that is a new skill or new information, our brains enter a state of hyperfocused attention, making it practically impossible to pay attention to anything else.
That is also how the brain operates when confronted with an activity that hasn’t been capitalized. If any of such activity is combined with another activity, the person basically becomes incapable of performing either.
To put things into perspective: It wouldn’t make sense for anyone who is yet to master the skill of driving to try to hold a conversation with their passenger while driving. That could be chaotic or even fatal.
On the other hand, pairing activities like sketching and talking to someone over the phone can be productive.
- The one great, one less rule
When choosing activities to multitask, choose one that requires greater mental focus and less physical effort, and another activity that requires less mental effort and greater physical effort.
A good enactment of this rule is to bond with a loved one over a shared activity of cooking or gardening. It kills two birds with a stone and enables you to cultivate your relationships while keeping up with your chores.
Conclusion
Multitasking, if used well, helps you get more done in 24 hours, ensures you win at work, with family, and in life, and will prevent you from looking back in regret because you “never had time” to do something.
