You’ve no doubt heard that multitasking is a bad idea. You may have even thought to yourself, “I can see how that could be true, but I’m the exception to the rule. I know I get a lot more done when I multitask. In fact, it’s a necessity!”

The Problem

mul·ti·task·ing (verb)- the handling of more than one task at the same time by a single person.

By it’s very definition multitasking proves impossible. Psychiatrist Edward Hallowell, MD, director of the Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Sudbury, Mass. insists that true multitasking is a myth. “We may feel we’re doing two or more things at once, but it’s an illusion. Instead, we’re quickly switching our focus back and forth. That’s because the cerebral cortex can only pay attention to one thing at a time. What people really do is shift their attention from one task to the next in rapid succession.”

Studies show it actually takes more time to switch back and forth between these tasks. Experts estimate we have as much as a 40% loss in productivity from the habit. The reason for the time loss is that different tasks call for different states of mind, called mindsets. When your brain has to “reorient” to a new mindset it takes time. Also, the effort of switching mindsets seemed to cause people mental exhaustion and impacted their short term memory and decision making abilities.

That’s not all, people who multitask tend to have higher stress levels. Whether it’s from the mental exertion of trying to stay on top of too many things, or the stress caused by mistakes that now need to be dealt with. Higher stress levels mean higher cortisol levels which can spell trouble for your health.

People who try to multitask are also more easily distracted. They have a hard time filtering out irrelevant information, so they are more prone to bouncing from task to task.

The Solution

• Try batching things that have a like mindset together.
• Allow yourself focused, uninterrupted time to complete important tasks
• Make a to do list and keep it handy – remember partially completed tasks don’t get to be crossed off!
• If you feel you must multitask, keep those tasks simple and give important tasks the attention they deserve.