Productivity: The Truth About Multi-Tasking

Whether it’s talking on the phone and driving, or watching TV and doing homework, we all do it: Multitasking. However, there have been several case studies to determine if it’s actually possible to concentrate on two different things at one time. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the research has shown that people can only attend to one cognitive task at a time, or in other words, you can only be thinking about one thing at a time. Thus, if you are having a conversation and typing a paper at the same time, chances are, you have no idea what the other person is talking about. The interesting thing about this issue is that we tell our selves that we convince ourselves otherwise. If we go back and forth between these separate tasks rather quickly, it is quite easy to see why we believe this. However, one exception has been found. A task that you have trained yourself to do without much thought has proved more successful when combined with another cognitive task. For example, tying your shoes, eating or getting dressed. Another interesting fact is that each generation is getting better at multitasking. Personally, I have trouble paying attention to even one thing at a time. However, I think this is an interesting study when applied to everyday life. How much would productivity increase if we faced the realization that multitasking is a self-proclaimed skill that isn’t technically possible? Would it improve efficiency? What do you think?

Written by: Karly Poole