So, you think you can multitask?

You've heard it before “multitasking is just doing lots of things badly”. Yet we all still think we can do it. So, how well do you perform a task when you're distracted?

Think of multitasking as trying to do something while distracting yourself with other things and it quickly becomes obvious that it’s not an effective way to work.

Trying to multitask is harder, less efficient and yields poorer results than focusing on one task at a time. 

When you think you’re multitasking, really you’re just switching your attention between the various tasks you’re doing. Each time you switch, it takes a little time to adjust and refresh yourself on where you were. Instantly, that’s time wasted. You may misremember where you’d got to or what you were doing, now, you’re doing the task wrong.

Lots of us can’t avoid some level of distraction. Answering the phones, dealing with emergencies, colleagues asking us what we’re having for tea. Save easy/non-critical jobs to do at times when you know you won’t be able to avoid these distractions.

For anything really important, make time to focus on it. If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. If you need a break from what you’re doing and get to a good point to stop and come back to it refreshed, by all means, do it.

Otherwise complete the task and move on with your life.

This guy can't even multitask and he's got 8 arms.