Many people have tried to handle two or more tasks at the same time, which is commonly referred to as multitasking. This could range from writing emails while talking on the phone, eating while watching a movie, or even texting while driving.

Multitasking may seem like a time-saver and an efficient way to get things done. However, research shows that this can lead to disastrous consequences for both productivity and safety.

What is multitasking?

Multitasking refers to the ability to perform several tasks at the same time. It is an essential skill required in today’s fast-paced environment, where people are expected to juggle several responsibilities simultaneously.

It is quite common in office jobs, as they involve multiple roles and responsibilities that require different types of skills.

What are the risks involved in multitasking?

Although there is a widespread belief that multitasking can help increase productivity, this approach could, in fact, limit productivity. Research indicates that multitasking restricts one’s ability to focus on the task at hand ultimately.

When people switch between tasks, they need some time to adjust and refocus their attention. This transition time can be quite costly in terms of productivity – up to 40% less than when focused entirely on the initial task.

Multitasking can negatively affect work quality

When employees perform tasks simultaneously, they tend to make more mistakes, whether in the quality of work or job completion.

Multitasking may also lead to poor decision-making skills because the brain is dividing its attentional resources between multiple tasks instead of focusing entirely on one. In this sense, focusing on the individual elements of a task separately can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the variety of factors that influence it, allowing for a more comprehensive decision-making process.

Multitasking makes you less efficient

Studies show that multitasking can significantly reduce one’s efficiency. It takes the brain time to switch between different tasks, and this extra time spent in transition leads to a reduction in productivity and efficiency.

The brain’s inability to process all the tasks simultaneously is also an important factor that severely limits efficiency.

Multitasking can reduce overall income

Another important reason why multitasking is not an advantageous skill relates to compensation. People who focus on a single task, working on one problem until it is resolved, can work more efficiently and produce a higher quality of work.

In contrast, people who multitask may complete several jobs in one day but may produce lower quality work or take longer to complete their projects, leading to additional delays, corrections, or even job loss. Thus, in the long run, a person’s overall income may be negatively affected by multitasking.

Multitasking impairs cognition and learning

Studies have shown that multitasking an impact cognitive abilities, such as learning and memory. It is a well-known fact in psychology that information is stored more efficiently when we devote our full attention to it.

This means that a distracted mind affects recall, causing us to forget what we may have learned. In fact, research indicates that students who multitask during study sessions retain less information, both in the short term and the long term, than those who focus on one thing at a time.

Multitasking endangers our safety

Multitasking can lead to hazardous situations. For instance, using a mobile phone while driving leads to thousands of deaths and injuries each year. Similarly, typing an email while crossing the road can result in serious accidents.

Multitasking reduces one’s ability to focus solely on situational awareness, reducing reaction time when things go wrong.

How can we avoid multitasking?

There are several things we can do to avoid multitasking:.

Start by focusing on a single task and completing it. Resist the urge to switch to something else until the first task is completed.
Use tools to block distracting notifications while working, or set up dedicated times during the day to check emails and messages.
Limit multi-tasking to situations where it is necessary and safe, such as cooking while listening to music.
Find out when your mind is going to be most focused and use that time to achieve your objectives. In most cases, for example, mornings are more productive than afternoons or evenings.
Take breaks from working on a specific task. This helps to refresh your mind and reduce fatigue, which can increase productivity later.

Conclusion

In the end, multitasking may appear to be an effective way to get things done quickly, but it is not. It has too many drawbacks, including affecting our productivity, quality of work, and even safety.

As much as possible, we need to avoid multitasking at work and prioritize our most important tasks to achieve optimal efficiency.