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You’re answering emails while listening to a podcast and checking your phone notifications. Sounds productive, right? In fact, multitasking might be silently sabotaging your brain’s efficiency. Let’s take a look at what the science says about why doing “everything at once” is not as smart as it seems.
Many people believe that multitasking makes them faster and more efficient. However, neuroscience tells a different story: the human brain is not designed to process multiple complex tasks simultaneously. In fact, it rapidly switches between tasks, a process known as “task switching”, which consumes cognitive resources and time.
Studies show that frequent task switching can reduce productivity (Buser and Peter, 2011). Why? Because every switch requires your brain to reorient attention, costing energy.
When you try to juggle multiple tasks, your prefrontal cortex (the brain’s control center) works overtime to manage competing demands. This constant switching comes at significant cost. First, it overloads your working memory, the system that temporarily holds and manipulates information to complete a task, making it harder to process new inputs. Second, it fragments your attention, reducing accuracy and increasing the likelihood of mistakes. Finally, it slows down cognitive processing, so each task takes longer than if you focus on it individually.
Neuroimaging studies show that the pressure to “keep up” induced by multitasking lead to activation of stress-related networks and raises cortisol levels. Over time, this can impair memory and decision-making abilities, leaving you mentally drained. In addition, the depletion of cognitive resources leads to lower creativity and higher mental fatigue.
Science provides us with the key to breaking this cycle and improving productivity, in both our professional and everyday lives. First, prioritize single tasking by dedicating uninterrupted blocks of time to one task and take some breaks. One technique you can try is the Pomodoro technique, which involves working in 25-minute focused intervals with short breaks. Secondly, improve your “digital hygiene” by silencing notifications and closing unnecessary tabs. Thirdly, prioritize your tasks according to how much energy you have, starting with the most demanding task while you have the most energy.
Although multitasking may feel efficient, it’s actually a cognitive illusion. Your brain thrives on focus, not fragmentation. By embracing single-tasking, you’ll boost your productivity, reduce stress, and give your mind the clarity it deserves.