“ Research has shown that multitasking actually results in a staggering 40 % reduction in productivity !”
The cost of multitasking
MULTITASKING
Do you always have a dozen tabs open on your computer at once ? Is your day spent jumping back and forth between the many tasks on your to-do list ? ( Well , of course it is because you ’ re an EA )! Do you feel like you ’ re constantly busy but never getting anything done ? Do you struggle to just watch TV without also scrolling on your phone or tapping away on your laptop ? If so , it sounds like you ’ re a victim of the multitasking trap .
You probably think that when you have a million things to do , multitasking / working on several things at the same time increases your productivity . You ’ re getting more done in less time , right ? Wrong ! Research has shown the human brain is not actually designed for this complex multitasking . So , it ’ s actually taking a toll on our productivity , cognitive function and mental health .
Picture your brain as a superhero and remember that even superheroes have their kryptonite . Our brain ’ s kryptonite is the inability to focus on two complex tasks at once . What we often perceive as multitasking is actually our brain frantically flipping between tasks – referred to as ‘ attention switching ’. And it ’ s not exactly efficient .
“ Research has shown that multitasking actually results in a staggering 40 % reduction in productivity !”
The cost of multitasking
Efficiency takes a hit Contrary to popular belief , multitasking actually makes us slower , not faster . Research has shown that multitasking actually results in a staggering 40 % reduction in productivity ! This is because each time we switch tasks , our brain has to cough up some mental energy for the transition . This switching cost eats away at time and brainpower .
So , where does all that time go ? Well , it ’ s like a magic trick , but not the fun kind . When we switch between tasks , our brain literally goes offline for a split second – it ’ s known as the attentional blink . Imagine your brain taking a minivacation every time you switch tasks … Not the best strategy for getting things done .
Now , picture this . You ’ re knee-deep in a complex task and quickly jump over to check an email or a text . Seems harmless ? Think again ! On average , it takes a whopping 64 seconds to get your full attention back on your previous task . And if you ’ re working on something super-intricate and get side-tracked , it can take up to a mind-boggling 20 minutes to get back to your previous level of focus and flow .
Back to that 64 seconds … If you get distracted every five minutes ( which is actually generous because the average person gets distracted every 40 seconds ) you waste twelve minutes an hour , which in a forty-hour week adds up to eight and a half hours lost ! Yep , multitasking is costing you an entire day per week in lost productivity . In fact , I ’ ve helped companies transition down to a four-day work-week simply through embracing mindfulness practices to help reduce multitasking , and improve focus and productivity . What could you do with an extra day a week ?!
Quality gets a downgrade When we go all-in on a single task , it gets the VIP treatment – full attention , maximum brainpower and primo effort . But when we divide our focus , we tend to do a subpar job of both tasks .
Stress levels go through the roof The constant mental gymnastics between tasks can leave you feeling like you ’ re on a never-ending rollercoaster ride – exciting at first , but soon you ’ re screaming to get off .
Creativity takes a dive Creativity loves a calm , focused mind . But multitasking ? It ’ s like trying to hold a deep philosophical debate at a rock concert – not conducive to great ideas . When our attention is constantly shifting , our creative genius is on standby .
Brainpower plummets Research has shown that high media multitaskers ( you know , people who watch TV while scrolling or texting ) have less brain density in a crucial area called the Anterior Cingulate Cortex . This part of the brain is like the control centre for attention , decision-making , empathy and a whole bunch of other cognitive and emotional superpowers . j
Summer Issue 2024 | Executive PA 19