The technological of recent years has indeed made our lives easier. We can take our computer to the sofa, are always-on and online everywhere with our heavy mobile phones around us everywhere. That sounds pretty good to start with, right? However, this convenience also has its pitfalls. Suddenly we are sitting at the breakfast table, discussing the next major project with colleagues, receiving a call from the customer and have just the new and exciting products open in the browser, along with something which was just posted on Facebook.
This phenomenon is referred to as multitasking and I’m sure that you know exactly what I’m talking about. Multitasking is the often seen as the ability of people understood to be performing several activities at the same time or within short intervals. While it was initially declared as a positive quality, studies have since discovered that multitasking does not keep its promises.
We have summarized 3 main reasons for you, on why you need to change your strategy as soon as possible, stop multitasking and be more productive!
1: Stop Multitasking. Multitasking is not Multitasking
Strictly speaking, you do not multitask or work on multiple tasks simultaneously but are constantly changing back and forth. Our brain has a certain power and attention capacity for processing the tasks. When we suddenly want to work on multiple tasks simultaneously, this capacity is split, which means that you can work on a job but with a lesser degree of attention. In addition, multitasking adversely affects our memory.
Researchers have found that multitasking affects our working memory and short-term memory, and this relationship is stronger in old age. The reason for this is that the processing of single tasks can not proceed undisturbed.
For example, reading a newspaper article while the TV is on. You will most likely focus less on both unless you focus on one task at a time. For tasks that take up less memory performance multitasking is perhaps more effective. But not with tasks that require your full attention and concentration. Thus error is inevitable when you are multitasking.
2: Stop Multitasking to increase your productivity
Although many people believe that multitasking leads to greater productivity and time saving, it is quite the opposite. Studies have found that the productivity of subjects while processing tasks decreases by up to 40%.
Multitaskers have also sometime forgotten how to distinguish between relevant and non-relevant tasks and wasted time, unnecessarily so. The same rule applies: tasks that are less demanding may suffer less. But even if you drive a car and make phone calls via hands-free a high level of concentration is required and can cause you to get lost, go intuitively slower or worse, have an accident because you are involved in an important business conversation.
3: Stop Multitasking and avoid mental health issues
Although so far no relationship has been established between multitasking and mental illness, it was found that multitasking significantly increases the stress level of the individuals concerned. People using a buzzing smartphone wake up frequently, for instance, when they receive a text message or e-mail and subconsciously remember that it could be important.
To relax during after office is virtually impossible if you have your corporate e-mail forwarding to your mobile at any point in time. Another effect of multitasking is the decreasing interpersonal communication. Fewer people actually talk to each other. And increasingly we see tables in restaurants or bars where guests are actually tapping on mini-computers instead of actually communicating with each other. If continued for long periods, lack of a real exchange can lead to depression at worst.
So dear senior professionals, would you not prefer to focus on what is really important? And above all, you can work on a task after another. This will ensure that you are not only productive, but also happier! Have a great weekend!
