I say no to multitasking

Contrary to stereotypes, our brain is able to fully concentrate on only one activity. And multitasking is a myth invented by employers who need to get the most out of their employees. And it is valued only because it best corresponds to the dictates of the unconditional fulfillment of labor tasks.

Sociologist Catherine Datchari analyzes: “All companies recognize the problem of lack of attention and the inability of employees to concentrate, but at the same time, the ability to perform many tasks at once is in demand among job seekers.” Responsiveness today is valued more than productivity itself.

The ability to perform several actions at the same time does not bring any benefit, on the contrary, it harms our intellectual abilities. A 2010 study by sociologists at the University of London shows that 1100 multitasking workers had more IQ drops than marijuana smokers or insomniacs.

Neurologist Earl Miller proved that the human brain is not capable of efficiently multi-tasking at the same time. He can only “juggle” several tasks with varying success. Multitasking leads to mental and physical overwork, as it requires much more effort than doing one thing after another.

Synonymous with lack of concentration

Another fact not in favor of multitasking is that it interferes with concentration. A habit is formed to immediately answer all the exciting questions at once, instead of focusing on one priority task.

It has been proven that the driver is only able to focus on the road by 30-50% while using the phone. Therefore, even using a headset while driving is highly undesirable.

At work, we experience a lot of stress, thinking that we have no choice if we want to complete the task on time. But what’s the point of this race? Stress leads to mistakes, negligence, hack work, all of which add to the stress and fatigue we already experience from multitasking. In this mode, burnout occurs fairly quickly.

I only focus on one

I will tell you one parable. The sage, who was considered practically a saint, was asked: “How do you live? What is your religious discipline?

He replied: “I live an ordinary life – this is my discipline. When I feel hungry, I eat. When I feel like I want to sleep, I sleep.” “But it’s nothing special. Everyone does it: when they are hungry, they eat; when they want to sleep, they sleep.” The sage laughed, “No. When you eat, you do a thousand and one things: think, dream, imagine, remember. And don’t just eat. When I eat, I just eat: there is only food and nothing else. When you sleep, you dream, fight insomnia, wake up from nightmares. When I sleep, I just sleep, nothing else exists … When I walk, there is only a walk.

Eating when you eat and sleeping when you sleep means being fully present in all your activities. Indeed, it is difficult to concentrate when the brain is overwhelmed with information. Only with full concentration, you can achieve maximum efficiency. This is how we save energy, because being torn apart is energy-consuming, we save our nerves, we value ourselves and the result of our work more.

An exercise

“Concentration, like muscles, is never too late to start training,” explains psychologist Jeanne Sio-Fashen. – To re-educate yourself, try to control the moments when you turn on the multitasking mode during the day. And as soon as you are going to do two, three, five things at once, tell yourself “stop”. Try once or twice a day to focus on only one thing. Don’t try to force yourself to immediately switch to “single-tasking” mode, especially at work, because you will definitely not succeed and will only suppress the desire to change.

Whether it’s developing a new project, cooking dinner, or negotiating, do just that and nothing else. Be fully present in what you are doing.

If you’re out with friends, put your phone down. Focus on what is happening in the moment.

The purpose of this exercise is to feel the difference between two opposite experiences:

1. The comfort we experience in doing just one task, the inner calm and peace that is achieved. A sense of efficiency that inspires us.
2. The feeling that you are psychologically torn apart when you “juggle” five things at the same time. Low level of efficiency and as a result – loss of energy.

Experiment and share your experience with others. Perhaps your example will inspire colleagues or loved ones.