Multitasking: The Hidden Cost of Doing Too Much at Once

While recently prepping for a presentation on the myths of multitasking, I realized I was sabotaging creativity, information flow and focus because I was…you got it…multitasking! It was a startling reminder of how easily one can get caught up in the clutches of busyness, i.e., juggling emails, texts, meetings, phone calls and an important project simultaneously, all under the guise of maximizing productivity. Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, there’s concrete evidence that multitasking isn’t effective and there’s a hidden cost of doing too much at once.

An Adrenaline Rush!

Multitasking is a sneaky thing! It creates the illusion of productivity but has the opposite effect. We humans enjoy the adrenaline rush that accompanies ticking off all the boxes of “things to do” before we tackle a project that requires deep focus and attention. This work is often the “real guts” of what will truly enhance our careers or lives in the long run, e.g., documenting a career-enhancing creative idea that will save your company hundreds of dollars, preparing for your yearly review, reviewing a training module, or learning to play the piano. These aren’t the “tick off the boxes” tasks that give us instant gratification. These tasks require disciplined focus, creativity and attention and are more difficult to do, so we avoid them and do the “fun” stuff. Then, before you know it, our energy, our ability to focus, and ultimately our entire day is gone! Sound familiar? It does to me, too!

Our Brains Are Not Designed to Handle More Than One Important Task at a Time:

I distinctly remember driving to my choral rehearsal and trying to learn a new song while navigating busy traffic. I still recall with horror the exact moment I narrowly avoided hitting a car while attempting to make a left-hand turn. I was lucky and considered it a wake-up call that my brain could not focus on two high-level tasks concurrently. Statistics prove that drivers who choose to multitask while driving have serious consequences. A 2021 report from Transport Canada’s National Collision Database on distracted driving reinforces my point: “…distracted driving contributed to an estimated?22.5% of fatal collisions and 25.5% of serious injury collisions?in 2021.”

The same serious consequences of multitasking behind the wheel also apply when we’re behind our desks and working on two or more important tasks, while also attending to our computers, phones and tablets pinging, dinging, vibrating and buzzing! (Yikes!) Our devices beckon us to engage with them and because we’re human, we can’t resist. When we’re constantly shifting our mental gears from one task to another, it takes its toll on our mental bandwidth capacity. The results are a lack of focus, poor quality work, forgetfulness, and a lack of creativity and innovation. Multitasking also negatively affects our relationships, communication skills, brain function, listening skills, and overall quality of life.

Multitasking and Productivity:

Are you an entrepreneur or a businessperson? An article in Forbes Magazine: How MultiTasking Erodes Productivity And Dings Your IQ by Curt Steinhorst states: “It’s terrible for business. Rather than aid productivity, multitasking hamstrings it by as much as?40%.”

Are you a leader or manager? Discouraging multitasking within your organization will increase productivity, and enhance teamwork, customer service and quality of work. It will also reduce stress in the work environment.

Are you an employee or retiree? Stop multitasking and your relationships with your partner, your kids and yourself will change for the better exponentially!

Multitasking and Stress:

Juggling multiple tasks at once can lead to increased stress and mental fatigue. Our brains expend extra energy when task switching, leading to cognitive overload. Over time, this can result in burnout and decreased overall mental health.

Use my Triple A Formula to identify and manage the urge to multitask:

Aware:

·?????? Become aware of your multitasking habits. If you have a major project or task that you are avoiding, or unable to find the time to complete, monitor your multitasking vs. single-focus ratio.

·?????? Awareness = opportunity to change.

Analyze:

·?????? What will/can you change to reduce the urge to multitask?

·?????? What can you change to help maintain focus?

·?????? What are the rewards that come with more focus/less frenzy?

Action:

·?????? Block off time to work on important projects.

·?????? Minimize or remove distractions.

·?????? Maximize your peak energy time (morning? or afternoon?).

·?????? Take breaks to stretch and refresh.

·?????? Set timelines for projects.

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It’s not easy to change multitasking habits, but it’s well worth the effort! When applied, my Triple A formula will help you curb the urge to multitask and foster a more productive, balanced, and less chaotic life…one you’ll feel all the richer for!