Why Multitasking Reduces Productivity and Focus
In today’s fast-paced world, multitasking is often praised as a valuable skill. Many professionals, students, and even homemakers believe handling multiple things at once makes them more efficient. Answering emails while attending a meeting, scrolling social media during a lecture, or working on several projects simultaneously has become the norm. But here’s the reality: multitasking doesn’t make us more productive—it actually slows us down. Research in neuroscience and psychology shows that multitasking reduces productivity and focus. Let’s explore why. 1. The Myth of Multitasking People often confuse multitasking with efficiency. What’s really happening is “task-switching.” Instead of doing two things at the same time, your brain jumps back and forth between tasks. Every time you switch, your brain takes a few seconds (sometimes minutes) to re-focus. This “switching cost” adds up, leading to wasted time and reduced output. 2. How the Brain Handles Tasks The human brain is not designe...