I’m convinced this is why we do it, because there’s really no other reason to. While that’s the case, though, at the same time it’s hard to deny that multitasking feels incredible. When we multitask, we do a mediocre job of everything.
Instead of channeling our complete focus and energy into one task, we spread it thin, which prevents us from diving deep into any one of our tasks. It’s impossible for our brains to focus on two tasks at once-it’s actually rapidly switching between them. Most surprisingly, multitasking studies show that when we think we’re multitasking, we actually aren’t multitasking.
(One fascinating study conducted by Timothy Wilson at the University of Virginia found that while our brain receives 11 million “bits” of information each second, it can only process 40 of them.) We need to invest our limited attention wisely. Every moment, our brain is flooded with information-sights, sounds, words, thoughts, to-dos, and more. The attention we can give to what’s in front of us is limited. But study after study has shown that while multitasking can be stimulating, and may even make us feel more productive, it invariably makes us less productive. When we try doing multiple things at the same time, the brain is more stimulated, and it releases more dopamine (a main pleasure chemical). Doing more than one thing at a time is a great way to become busier, and it’s usually a more engaging way of working. On the surface, this makes zero sense: isn’t doing more, faster the ultimate path to productivity? I’d argue vehemently that it isn’t. Over the next couple weeks, I’ve been adapting a few of my favorite ideas from The Productivity Project and posting about them on ALOP! Don’t worry if you’re in the middle of reading the book-they won’t spoil much, and I’ve taken out a few of the weird stories, interviews, and anecdotes :-) Enjoy! -Chrisĭoing only one thing at a time is a surprisingly powerful way to become more productive.
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