Multitasking Doesn't Exist

Notes

Multitasking doesn't exist because at any single moment, we can only focus on a single thing. So at best, multitasking is a quickly switching between tasks, and the dream of actually doing things simultaneously is unfortunately a myth. The only exception is in cases where one of those actions don't require focus at all, for example I can walk and talk at the same time, or wash dishes and listen to a podcast.

Furthermore, Our Executive Attention Network is best utilized when we have only a single thing in our attention span, because uncompleted task still take space in our mind, limiting the available resources for focusing on the task at hand Attention Residue.

Multitasking is also a main cause for Burnout, by trying to overload ourselves with tasks, while falsely thinking that "I can do it all" causes to experience high levels of Stress when we eventually fail to manage these tasks effectively.

The key is less is more, by realizing that we can't be everywhere all at once, that our time and energy are scarce resources, we realize that we should be Saying no more often.

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Overview

🔼Topic:: Productivity (MOC) 🔼Topic:: Memory, Attention and cognitive load (MOC) ◀Origin:: 🔗Link::