Comments on: Why Multitasking is More than Just Inefficient http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/ Strategies for Positive Change Thu, 24 May 2012 01:09:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Full Presence Stomps Multi-tasking | Reasons for Focus http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-8020 Full Presence Stomps Multi-tasking | Reasons for Focus Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:36:49 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-8020 [...] Starting multiple tasks is a piece of cake but dividing your attention causes you to slip and make mistakes and that often costs you a lot more time later. Your mind is not a piece of clay. You cannot divide it into equal chunks and set them to various tasks on auto-pilot. Your mind is fluid like the ocean and you cannot predict its ebbs and flows when you divvy up your focus and attention back and forth. Single-tasking gets things done faster over a long period of time and almost always, with higher quality and better results than multitasking. [...] [...] Starting multiple tasks is a piece of cake but dividing your attention causes you to slip and make mistakes and that often costs you a lot more time later. Your mind is not a piece of clay. You cannot divide it into equal chunks and set them to various tasks on auto-pilot. Your mind is fluid like the ocean and you cannot predict its ebbs and flows when you divvy up your focus and attention back and forth. Single-tasking gets things done faster over a long period of time and almost always, with higher quality and better results than multitasking. [...]

]]> By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-4657 Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:33:17 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-4657 Hi Manny, it would be great to know the results of your employers decision. I suspect it was prompted by real world evidence that multitasking was actually doing more harm than good. Thank you so much for joining in. Hi Manny, it would be great to know the results of your employers decision. I suspect it was prompted by real world evidence that multitasking was actually doing more harm than good. Thank you so much for joining in.

]]> By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-4656 Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:29:15 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-4656 Hi Sibyl, you used a phrase I really like: "It really allows you to invest in what you are doing." That really hit the nail on the head, thanks. Hi Sibyl, you used a phrase I really like: “It really allows you to invest in what you are doing.” That really hit the nail on the head, thanks.

]]> By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-4655 Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:25:46 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-4655 Hi Vijay, you said that very nicely. Good to have you here! Hi Vijay, you said that very nicely. Good to have you here!

]]> By: Manny http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-4646 Manny Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:22:29 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-4646 Great article. My employer is de-emphasizing multi-tasking, and emphasizing single-task focus as a way to operate within a Critical Chain project management environment. To Mr. King. I used to to email and eat lunch at the same time, but now am focusing on one task at a time. The result? I enjoy my lunch and eat it faster. I respond to the emails that need high-priority responses faster. Great article. My employer is de-emphasizing multi-tasking, and emphasizing single-task focus as a way to operate within a Critical Chain project management environment. To Mr. King. I used to to email and eat lunch at the same time, but now am focusing on one task at a time. The result? I enjoy my lunch and eat it faster. I respond to the emails that need high-priority responses faster.

]]> By: alternaview http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-4179 alternaview Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:18:31 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-4179 Although we may get sold on the productivity of multitasking, there really is something to be said about maintaining a singular focus on the task at hand. It really allows you to invest in what you are doing and that provides so many return benefits that outweigh whatever productivity you think you are getting from multitasking. Great topic and great post. .-= alternaview´s last blog ..<a href="http://alternaview.com/?p=1053" rel="nofollow">You May just have to do a little more than “just believe”</a> =-. Although we may get sold on the productivity of multitasking, there really is something to be said about maintaining a singular focus on the task at hand. It really allows you to invest in what you are doing and that provides so many return benefits that outweigh whatever productivity you think you are getting from multitasking. Great topic and great post.
.-= alternaview´s last blog ..You May just have to do a little more than “just believe” =-.

]]> By: Vijay Kumar Raisinghani http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-4137 Vijay Kumar Raisinghani Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:55:16 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-4137 great post! It is true that multitasking results in more mistakes, errors and anxiety. We are unable to focus properly on the work at hand. I personally try to avoid multitasking as much as possible, so that I can work with greater mindfulness and enjoy my work at the same time. .-= Vijay Kumar Raisinghani´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.meditation-techniques-guide.com/vipassana-meditation.html" rel="nofollow">Vipassana Meditation</a> =-. great post! It is true that multitasking results in more mistakes, errors and anxiety. We are unable to focus properly on the work at hand. I personally try to avoid multitasking as much as possible, so that I can work with greater mindfulness and enjoy my work at the same time.
.-= Vijay Kumar Raisinghani´s last blog ..Vipassana Meditation =-.

]]> By: Mike King http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/why-multitasking-is-more-than-just-inefficient/#comment-4115 Mike King Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:49:15 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=2095#comment-4115 Well I do understand where complex tasks can't benefit from context switching but what I really don't like with the topic of multitasking is how people assume multitasking and the dangers of switching apply to all areas of the brain. Its just not true. There are many things in the mind that are multitasking and the subconscious is the master of multitasking otherwise your heart would be interrupted by your twitter feed, you'd have to stop to breath every second and your other motor skills, hearing, taste, touch, sight and other autonomous actions would simply fail. Multitasking is quite possible with the mind and putting tasks that don't use the same brain centers can multitask perfectly. Like riding your bike and listening to a audio book, or eating a meal while reading a book, or going for a walk while having an important conversation. You have to understand what multitasking is available in the brain and use it to be productive. The same goes for day to day tasks. There are many that are not so complex that your quality suffers at all when you multitask them, especially if they use different centers of the brain and are so natural to you they are unconscious. Anyway, this topic is a pet peeve of mine when people generalize multitasking into ANY daily tasks and actions saying it sacrifices quality. I don't buy it if you choose carefully which tasks need full attention and which do not. Just my $0.02. .-= Mike King´s last blog ..<a href="http://learnthis.ca/2009/08/book-review-the-adversity-paradox/" rel="nofollow">Book Review: The Adversity Paradox</a> =-. Well I do understand where complex tasks can’t benefit from context switching but what I really don’t like with the topic of multitasking is how people assume multitasking and the dangers of switching apply to all areas of the brain. Its just not true. There are many things in the mind that are multitasking and the subconscious is the master of multitasking otherwise your heart would be interrupted by your twitter feed, you’d have to stop to breath every second and your other motor skills, hearing, taste, touch, sight and other autonomous actions would simply fail.

Multitasking is quite possible with the mind and putting tasks that don’t use the same brain centers can multitask perfectly. Like riding your bike and listening to a audio book, or eating a meal while reading a book, or going for a walk while having an important conversation. You have to understand what multitasking is available in the brain and use it to be productive. The same goes for day to day tasks. There are many that are not so complex that your quality suffers at all when you multitask them, especially if they use different centers of the brain and are so natural to you they are unconscious.

Anyway, this topic is a pet peeve of mine when people generalize multitasking into ANY daily tasks and actions saying it sacrifices quality. I don’t buy it if you choose carefully which tasks need full attention and which do not. Just my $0.02.
.-= Mike King´s last blog ..Book Review: The Adversity Paradox =-.

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