If you’re a notorious multitasker, you may want to rethink the way you work. According to brain health experts, this common work habit is actually detrimental to brain health. Wondering why? Keep reading to find out—and try not to do anything else while you do it.
If you’re in a habit of sending emails while attending virtual meetings or doing a tedious work task while also listening to a podcast, it’s time to rethink the way you work. According to Dr. Jeffrey Portnoy, PhD, a neuropsychologist at Holy Name Medical Center, multitasking is impossible. “Parts of the brain dedicated to performing specific activities can only do one task at a time, although it can be fractions of a second between when one is completed and another is started,” Dr. Portnoy says.
Dr. Portnoy says that when people say they are multitasking, what is actually happening is that the brain is switching between multiple tasks very quickly. “While they are technically only doing one thing at a time, they are able to pick back up with tasks more easily and waste minimal time backtracking, which makes it seem like they are doing several things at once,” he explains. The exception to this is when one of the tasks can be done without thinking about it, such as folding laundry or emptying the dishwasher while talking on the phone.
Dr. Muhammad Arshad, MD, a neurologist at Memorial Hermann, says that the brain is not designed for heavy-duty multitasking. He explains that although it takes less than a second to switch between tasks, continuing to do this makes the brain work harder than it would if it was focusing on one task at a time. “Multitasking may seem efficient on the surface, but may actually take more time in the end and involve more error. Even brief mental blocks created by shifting between tasks can cost as much as 40% of someone's productive time,” he says.
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What To Do Instead of Multitasking
Besides doing one task at a time, Dr. Portnoy says it can be helpful to work breaks into your workday. While you may think this is the opposite of being productive, it isn’t! “It's important to remember that the brain will continue to work in the background even after you step away from a project, so taking short breaks to clear your head and refresh yourself can actually be a very positive thing,” Dr. Portnoy says.
Focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking isn’t just better for your brain; it’s more enjoyable too. Focusing on each task separately allows you to enjoy the task more—and you’ll be less mentally fatigued when you’re done.
Related: 10 Awesome Mental Health Podcasts You Need To Subscribe to Right Now—Your Brain Will Thank You
Sources
Dr. Jeffrey Portnoy, PhD, neuropsychologist at Holy Name Medical CenterDr. Muhammad Arshad, MD, neurologist at Memorial Hermann Read More Details
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