Open Secret: Multitasking Wastes Time
By: Bean Jones
I used to be such a great fan of multitasking--but an embarrassing incident that happened a few days ago made me change my mind.
I was writing an e-mail to a workmate while composing a text message on my mobile phone with an old college friend. Guess what happened? I ended up writing this in the e-mail message to my workmate: "See you at your Fourth of July shindig, man. I'll stop you from getting smashed." You can imagine how mortified I was when I realized what I had just done--right after I clicked on "Send." It's a good thing my workmate just e-mailed back this: "Huh? Bean, I don't drink."
So much for doing more than one thing at the same time--it probably only works with walking while chewing gum.
However, it occurred to me that most people think that multitasking is the SOP. A 2005 study of employees by the Families and Work Institute in New York City showed 45 percent of U.S. workers believe that "they are asked or expected to work on too many tasks all at once." Unfortunately, these people may actually be wasting a lot of time.
As part of a study, a group led by psychologist David E. Meyer of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor asked test participants to write a report and check their e-mail at the same time. As it turns out, those who jumped back and forth between the tasks took about one and a half times longer to finish than those who completed one job before turning to another.
Other scientific studies also show that trying to juggle jobs rather than completing them one at a time can leave multitaskers with a reduced ability to perform each task well, as the brain constantly "resets" itself with each new task. This, in turn, may lead to inefficiency, sloppy thinking, and mistakes.
Up to a point, people can improve their multitasking skills with practice--at least those that can become routine. Yes, you can sing a song and scrub yourself with your loofah while taking a shower. But, surely, it's wrong for you to answer your boss' call on your cell phone while you're driving. (If this happens, pull over before you take the call.) So--to be on the safe side, avoid goof-ups like mine, and do your office tasks much better--try to just do one thing at a time. Think quality versus quantity.
Comments
Women have to multi-task to cope with the constant interruptions from kids. You can't delay feeding a crying baby for long, but you can feed the baby while you eat your dinner. Or you can feed one baby while you're pushing your toddler in a swing. Child rearing quickly makes us master multi-taskers -- and that learned skill naturally works its way back into the workforce.
But some tasks require quality time that comes from singular focus - like emailing your boss, or reading to your child. At other times multi-tasking is frustrating because you're moving 10 projects one step forward, instead of driving one project to completion. But sometimes that's what's needed!
Multi-tasking has its place, it just shouldn't be every place.
Adrianne Machina
You have learned a valuable lesson. Too bad employers don't "get it". They expect you to multi-task constantly. Past generations, in their infinite wisdom, have learned what you have. My mother (now 80 years old) used to tell me when I was a kid, "If you don't have time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to go back to correct your mistake?". Same scenario...
Regards!
Linda
I've heard that other (females) are wired differently.. but I know my brain is like a computer processor... I can have a lot of windows open, but the core processer (focus) is doing one action at a time.
I really can't focus on two projects at once.. no matter how well I pretend to multitask.
This is the post on multitasking right? I also have an email window open.. hope I go this in the right one
Bean ,yep that's true. Great Article. Multitasking slows you down, most times.
Learning when to multitask effectively can improve your quality and quantity.
As you said, multitask routine tasks.
Remember when you learning to drive a car. Could you adjust the radio volume and steer at the same time?
Bet you could do it now.
If you train yourself with routine tasks or use your PC or other tools to automate (make routine) certain tasks, you could get both worlds, quantity and quality. Most of us can handle 5 to 9 things at once. Only one better be non- routine.
How does multitasking help me?
I am an investor (actually more of a speculator). I use different chart patterns to determine where a stock would go. Sometimes I would miss patterns because I have so many variables to juggle at once. Recently. I wrote a little program that reduce the cognitive load of recognizing all the patterns. Guess what happened?
I was able to determine investment opportunities faster (I have gained a half hour a day) and I actually started to recognize new patterns. I guess you can increase your quality and quantity at the same time when you manage your cognitive load effectively.
Thanks for a great article!!
I absolutely agree that multi-tasking wastes time...
In my new report I discuss this very topic. Some of my subscribers were asking, "How do I get more done without getting sidetracked?"
The short answer is to think of time = money. (actually time AS money)
So for example, if you have $100 in FOCUS to accomplish your objective, then every other thing you focus on (i.e. "multitasking") is costing you valuable money.
Even checking email is gonna cost you around $45. So if you're working on a project and checking email at the same time, you're only spending $55 in FOCUS to accomplish something that requires $100.
When you focus on more than one thing at a time, you're less effective in everything you do.
I go further in depth into this concept in my Internet Business Report.
Excellent article - keep up the great quality content!
Jason Mangrum, Author
The Official Internet Business Report
21 Must-Read Questions & Answers For Getting In The Money Zone
http://www.InternetBusinessReport.info
There was a article on NPR's Diane Rheem show about multitasking this week. Her guests cited the same research results but Diane was saying that practically speaking, it also depends on the task at hand ~ her example that we can all relate to was watching her Mom with a baby on her hip, talking on the phone & stirring a pot of soup.
Both seem to be true.
The power that is achieved by simply focusing all of your attention on one task at a time until it's completion, is immeasurable. I know people who have increased their output 100% by simply utilizing this very simple secret and are now reaping the rewards of their work with much more moolah!
Warren: I'm a female with a baby, and I am pretty sure that I'm wired the same as everyone else. My conscious mind can only hold one thought at a time.
I have to work hard not to resent how "multitasking" is forced on me because of baby-hood. I love my child and know that there will be a time when I miss having him beg for attention all the time because he wants nothing to do with the 'rents, but it's still hard.
I am an electronic musician, which means hours in front of the computer and keyboard, doing detailed things like making sounds, programming every single beat and note, etc. I spent the first 20 years of my life in a practice room. This is a complete change for me.
I hope I don't forget how to focus!
Some can multitask with ease while others cannot or at least act like they can. But, in my opinion, multitasking can cause mess ups especially if the tasks are more than 2 or 3. They do take extra time and wastes money in the long haul.
This was a great article that really should be forwarded to many business online and offline to owners that really expect too much from their employees/contractors. Thanks for sharing it.
When I want to focus on a task I just switch off my computer screen, so that I don't see e-mails coming in.
Multitasking is a corporate myth that is "glorified" only to be of benefit to the corporate world as a way to get as much out of their underpaid workers until "outsourcing"/cheaper labor seemed more lucrative however, we are now experiencing the backlash for both "multitasking and outsourcing" as we are left scrambling for solutions for the problems brought on by higher oil prices.
Verily, I say, every man will eventually go back to his on "land"/mind.
Marsha
While I agree that multi-tasking wastes time, there is a difference between multi-tasking and being a scanner. Let me explain. A scanner is a person who is happiest with multiple projects going on all at the same time. It is a joy to flit from one to the other keeping all fresh. However, there are times when more time must be allotted to s specific project. This is sometimes called "time management." I go crazy if I have to stick to just one project and put all alse on the back burner, so to speak. I find it interesting that we scanners can often times get more done than the single project folks.
From personal experience, I've always found that multi-tasking only works when I'm doing routine tasks e.g. I can wash the dishes and learn lines for a play at the same time; but not for more complex tasks e.g. writing an essay. I must confess that I always thought I was somewhat deficient because of this. But your article makes me feel a whole lot more normal. Yay!
Thanks for the great article Mr. Bean. I have to agree with the study. For any serious work you have to focus on one subject at a time.
I have been working for a very high end client for 4 years now. The advice he offered when I started was" I don't care how many jobs you get completed today but do them very well." I have nothing but loyalty, love, respect and admiration for this man. And I work my butt off for him because of this.
Some multitasking can be done effectively. That's why most people get used to the multitasking mode, only to be bitten by attempting too many tasks at once which are not appropriate for multitasking.
Sometimes the solution is overall planning - to plan some routine tasks alongside other tasks, and to plan needed focus time.
Good article. Plain and simple, if I'm working on anything for a customer or potential customer, I am doing them (and myself) a disservice if I am not devoting 100% of my energy and ability to their requirement. No multitasking when working on customer requirements.
However, when I am working for me (electronic filing, cleaning desk, organizing to do list, or any personal stuff) multitasking is the way to go - unless I have a project of critical importance, in which case I deserve the same level of consideration I give my clients.
Multitasking is fine for routine tasks, but not so for those which require significant levels of detail - I would submit that multitasking while driving approaches suicidal, and I've seen a lot of multitaskers buried in the guardrail to support that theory! Why would multitasking while doing business be any different? Focus on what you're doing and avoid the guardrails on the information highway :)
Best,
Jeff
hi, andar here, i just read your post. i like very much. agree to you, sir.
Hey Bean,
I would say excessive multitasking wastes time. Today's post-industrial, information-based society demands instant gratification on too many fronts. As a result, folks become "jacks of all trades, masters of none".
I fear that the "fear" of not appearing busy in the workplace as well as in the home has contributed to our multitasking obsession. Hopefully, as the world retrenches economically, we will get back to core principles like quality, ingenuity, and thrift.
Thank you.
Rahul Majumdar