Everyone multitasks to some degree or another. Whether you watch TV while cooking dinner, or talk on your phone while browsing through a website, we all do it sometimes and feel fairly comfortable with it. I’d hazard …
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I’ve found that if I try to multi-task, NOTHING gets done well.
I am not good at multitasking and I was wondering if I should learn how to do it but after this article I think I won’t try.
Being a multitask-er myself; I feel that in my daily route I finish many “tasks”; though I do get distracted easily. While my husband does not multitask, he still gets a lot done. He pays attention to detail while I am ready to move to the next task and sometimes have to go back to the first thing I was doing. Perhaps multitaskers or just organizers while non-muilitaskers are the “workers?” One can not exist without the other. I see both on equal terms.
I just played the game and there was a .01 difference between my reaction times with and without texting. On top of that I made zero mistakes while texting and zero mistakes without texting. And every single reaction I made was faster than the “average”
In terms of driving I can just use my peripheral vision to pick up the numbers. It may be because I’m an avid video game player and I play multitasking games all the time, but haven’t you considered the possibility that some human brains are just wired differently (like a dyslexic) and can multitask.
I feel that the conclusions you are making from your data are inadequate. Its like taking 10,000 joes off the street and asking them to throw a 95mph fastball. Although you have big populations in the data, you dont consider the possibility that its a skill that a select few have. Multitasking is the same way, like this game, its a skill that can be learned, and with time improved. The problem is that multitasking is a skill that isn’t taught in schools or practiced in general except for athletes like NBA basketball players (dribble, move, read the defense, all at the same time) In this case it is quite easy to multitask, if you develop your peripheral vision (again something not really taught in our society). You obviously cant put both your eyes in both places (road and phone) but you can let your peripheral vision take care of one (I’d reccommend you let your peripheral vision take over the phone). And when you get adjusted to your phone your fingers get a feel for where certain letters are so you dont have to look at it allowing for both your eyes to look at the road.
I would love to hear your thoughts on my views. This is one thing I’m very passionate about (multitasking and how it is done)
are you honestly suggesting that it is safe to text while driving? you DO know how many people get into car accidents from doing that, right?
and just to say, when you’re multitasking, your focus is split. you can’t argue with that- it is true. now some people are better at multitasking than others, so i would agree that you could say that. but in general, if all of your focus is on one thing vs on many things at once, your bound to do a better job.
you used the example of playing basketball as multitasking- but you are still playing basketball. all of those things you are doing- dribble, move, read defense- they are all working towards one goal: to successfully complete the move, to get the ball in the basket, to win the game, ect. when you’re on your phone, typing an email to work, and making dinner (if you can do these things at the same time, i simply must meet you! but you understand the point of my example), you are working to complete three separate goals- listen and respond to a conversation, to not get fired, and to feed your children. these things, although you could certainly draw a connection, are not directly related to each other. and when you try to accomplish them at the same time, your focus is trying to be in three different places at once.
and while i’m sure you could have quite a stimulating conversation with your friend, succeed in work and maybe even get that promotion you wanted, and make a suitable meal for your family, i’m not so sure you are doing the most satisfactory job of these things. because you simply can’t give your best to three tasks at the same time- you’re splitting your concentration and skill.
Ignore the stuff about “the game”
I seem to think I can multitask, I have 6 kids, work full time, facebook a lot, house is always clean, drive while talking on the phone and have never even had a ticket let alone an accident, cook homemade meals everynight, and still find time to watch some tv, although I saw that only 2% of people were really able to multitask. I am not so overly confident that I think I fall in that persectage, although I am curious…. is there some sort of test or quiz we can take to see what our multitasking skills are?
Don’t believe that by doing lots of activities at once you get more done. Your productivity goes down by as much as 40%. Multi-tasking is actually task-switching, rapidly shifting from one thing to another, interrupting ourselves unproductively and forcing the brain to restart and refocus, many times. In the interim between each exchange, the brain makes no progress whatsoever. Therefore, multitasking people not only perform each task less suitably, but lose time in the process
So, heavy multitaskers are less competent at doing several things at once than light multitaskers. Multitasking isn’t just inefficient, it’s also stressful. Also, the brain cannot fully focus when multitasking, people take longer to complete tasks and are predisposed to error. The only time multi-tasking may be justified is for the lower level, menial work which does not require both selecting and producing action. For example, if you are ironing your clothes, you can fit in other tasks, such as listening to podcasts.
Follow the lead of AJ Jacobs, in his book My Experimental Life and does just one thing at a time.
“I’ve got to do something about my desk. This is where most of my crimes against focus occur. There are so many temptations. So many needs to fulfil. Snacks, cups of water, caffeine, curiosity about what Julie’s doing. I pop up from my desk once every five minutes.
I decide to engage in some light bondage. I once read about how Odysseus demanded his sailors tie him to the mast so he wouldn’t take a swan dive off the starboard side when he heard the alluring singing of the Sirens. So, in an homage, I’ve tied myself to the chair in front of my computer with a long extension cord. It feels safe, like a seat belt.”
Another great benefit of single-tasking is that you’re more likely to achieve a state of flow.