Why multitasking is your brain’s worst enemy

Well, welcome back to another edition of “Multitasking Mondays” or was it “Middle-Age Mayhem”? Honestly, the name of these series is still a working title. Consistency through indecision, right? At this point, not committing to a name feels like part of the charm... or maybe it’s just the procrastination talking. Either way, let’s dive in ... This week, we are tackling multitasking and the way it’s slowly turning our brains into scrambled eggs.

Let’s start with an experiment. Count how many tabs you have open right now. Be honest... If it’s fewer than ten, you’ve either just restarted your laptop because it sounded like a jet engine, or you’re in denial about how much mental clutter you are carrying around. But here’s the real question: How many of those tabs are genuinely helping you, and how many are just there because multitasking made you think you could do everything at once?

Spoiler alert: Multitasking isn’t the productivity hack we like to imagine. In fact, it’s one of the main culprits behind our shrinking attention spans. So, let’s unpack why multitasking is more of a hindrance than a help ... and perhaps, how we can design better environments for focus, both for ourselves and the learners we work with.

The attention span that got away

Once upon a time, focus came naturally. Remember those days? You would curl up in a comfy chair with a book, write an essay uninterrupted, or watch a film from start to finish without checking your phone. Somewhere along the way, though, your attention span packed its bags and quietly slipped out the back door. These days, instead of giving one thing your full attention, you’re juggling tasks like a circus performer ... and let’s be honest, your brain wasn’t built for that kind of act.

The average human attention span has reportedly dropped to around eight seconds ... Yes, less than a goldfish. But here’s the thing: It’s not because we’ve lost the ability to focus. It’s because we’re under siege. Emails pinging, push notifications, group chats (both at work and personal), like it’s daring you to respond and quickly! Then there’s multitasking, whispering sweet nothings about how productive you’re being, when really, you’re just frantically spinning plates until one inevitably falls down and breaks.

Multitasking: The villain in disguise

Let’s just get this out of the way: Multitasking is a myth. What you’re actually doing is “task switching,” a process that’s as clunky and inefficient as trying to use a fax machine in 2024. Meyer, Evans, and Rubinstein (2001) found that task switching costs us up to 40% of our productive time. Think about that for a minute... Don’t worry, I’ll wait...

Done?, Great!

That is almost half your day, gone, because you thought you could reply to emails while watching a webinar as well as be on a Teams call about that thing you needed to work on next Thursday ... and updating your Christmas shopping list.

Worse, multitasking doesn’t just waste time ... It stresses us out. The constant shifting between tasks overloads our cognitive systems, spikes our cortisol levels, and leaves us feeling scattered. It’s like trying to read A Man Called Ove while someone throws confetti in your face every five seconds. Not fun, not effective.

Here’s the twist: Multitasking isn’t just a personal productivity issue ... it’s also a design problem. In both higher education and corporate learning, we might be unintentionally building multitasking into the learning experience.

How learning design can save the day

If multitasking is the villain, then good learning design is the hero. As educators, trainers, and designers, it’s our job to create environments where learners can focus deeply and meaningfully. Here’s a quick pro tip on how we can do it:

• Remove distractions: Keep designs clean and focused, avoiding unnecessary pop-ups, sidebars, or overwhelming screens. Let the content guide learners seamlessly, allowing them to engage without competing elements.
• Encourage single-tasking: Present content in focused, manageable chunks. Microlearning modules or thematic blocks ensure learners tackle one task or concept at a time, enhancing comprehension and retention.
• Model and foster mindfulness: Lead by example in your designs. Avoid cramming unnecessary features into modules. Build in natural pauses for reflection and encourage learners to approach each task with full attention. Use subtle prompts like, “Take a moment to focus on this video,” or “Set aside time for uninterrupted reflection on this quiz.”
• Provide clear and direct instructions: Clarity is king... and essential to prevent confusion and multitasking. Guide learners with explicit steps ... “Read this section and identify three takeaways” ... instead of overwhelming them with simultaneous tasks.
• Minimise external distractions: Reduce unnecessary alerts, notifications, or anything that might pull learners away from the material. Offer features like full-screen mode or mute suggestions to help learners stay engaged.

Mindfulness is your attention span’s BFF

Jon Kabat-Zinn (1994) famously championed mindfulness as a way to focus on the present moment. And while I’m not saying you need to meditate before every training session, we can all learn a thing or two from the practice. Mindfulness is the antidote to multitasking. It’s about being fully present ... whether you’re tackling an important project or just enjoying your morning coffee.

For learners, mindfulness might mean dedicating uninterrupted time to their studies or approaching tasks with curiosity rather than urgency. For us as designers, it means being intentional in what we create. Are we helping learners focus, or are we just adding to the noise?

The bigger picture: Shrinking attention spans... oh what's that?

If multitasking is one of the culprits behind shrinking attention spans, then fixing it isn’t just about productivity... rather it’s about helping people reclaim their ability to engage deeply. Imagine a world where learners could immerse themselves in a topic without feeling pulled in ten different directions. Where focus wasn’t a luxury but a habit. That’s what great learning design can achieve.

Final thoughts: One thing at a time

This article was written with a cup of coffee by my side and a focusing music playlist humming in the background. Is that multitasking or just setting the mood? I’ll let you decide.

But whether you’re designing a training module, brainstorming your next big idea, or savouring a quiet moment with your morning tea, the same rule applies:

Close your tabs, put your phone on silent, and take a breath. One task. One moment. One thing at a time.

Your brain, and your attention span... will thank you.

P.S. Yes, I threw in that link to Monk. Apologies for the distraction, but it felt necessary. Sometimes, a little Shalhoub cameo is exactly what’s needed to keep things interesting... and for those who caught the nod, you know it was worth it.

Borgtór ásgeirsson 09/12/2024

Learning Design Manager Cambridge Judge Business School

References

• Meyer, D. E., Evans, J. E., & Rubinstein, J. (2001). Executive Control of Cognitive Processes in Task Switching.
• American Psychological Association (2006). Multitasking: Switching Costs.
• Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life.

For more on cognitive load theory and its role in learning design, click here to read my article.