Frequent Multitaskers are the Worst at Multitasking
On Point recently did a show talking about the results of scientific studies of multitaskers. If you frequently multitask you need to listen to this show. Here are some of the highlights:
- Scientists assumed that people who multitasked often would get better at it. In fact, they got worse.
- The less often you multitask, the better you are at it.
- Multitaskers wildly overestimate how effective they are. They falsely assume they are getting more done, when the evidence shows the opposite.
- Frequent multitaskers are suckers for irrelevant information. They are much worse at filtering out non-essential information than people who monotask.
- Batch processing tasks is more effective and actually takes less time.
Comically, the show also had on two twenty-something multitaskers who could have come directly out of the study: ‘Unskilled and Unaware’. While they maintained that others might be bad at multitasking, they themselves were superior and got more done.
[Click here to listen to On Point: Multitasking Minds]
--
Header photograph by eflon
--To read the rest of the 30 Days to a More Organized Life series, click to get free updates via email or RSS.
--
If you would like personalized help in being more productive and managing your time then click here to read about time management coaching from Silver Clipboard. The first session is free, so why not give it a try?
Most Popular Articles