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Human Multitasking

Multitasking is the "ability" to perform more than one task or activity at the same time.
#brain
Zettelkasten, March 29th, 2021.

Notes

  • Multitasking is the "ability" to perform more than one task or activity at the same time.

    • In reality, the brain is incapable of performing multiple tasks simultaneously. It cannot truly multitask. Reference

    • What you're doing is quickly shifting your attention and focus from one thing to the next.

  • It isn't good for productivity. Some researches suggest that multitasking can reduce productivity by as much as 40%.

    • Distractions happen more easily when you switch from one task to another.
    • Cause mental blocks.
    • More predisposed to errors.
  • Even people who consider themselves heavy multitaskers are not very good at multitasking (reference).

    • Those people were worse at sorting out relevant information from irrelevant details.
    • The most frightening results happened when multitaskers weren't multitasking. When chronic multitaskers were focusing on a single task, their brains were less effective and efficient.
  • On the other hand, multitaskers who use more than one form of media or type of technology at once perform better at integrating visual and auditory information (multisensory integration) (reference).

Questions

  • How to minimize the negative consequences of multitasking?

  • Which kind of tasks or profession multitaskers performs better?

References

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