I’ve posted before on why I’m cutting back on multi-tasking, both at work and at home. I suggested that multi-tasking lowers quality, contributes to burnout, and destroys productivity.
But a recent study at Stanford University suggests that multi-tasking could actually be damaging your ability to think and work.
The Acid Tests
Researchers at Stanford wanted to investigate what makes some people more inclined to multi-task than others. Is multi-tasking a skill? A natural gift?
To find out, they put a group of habitual multi-taskers and a group of non-multi-taskers through a series of cognitive tests designed to see how well they could:
- Focus and tune out distractions
- Memorize and recall information
- Rapidly switch between tasks
The results were not at all what the research team expected.
On every test, the group of multi-taskers performed worse than the non-multi-taskers.
In other words, the multi-taskers were more easily distracted, less able to remember information, and (shockingly) slower at switching between different tasks.
What Does it All Mean?
Are multi-taskers born with lesser focus and poorer memory? Or does constant multi-tasking actually wear down and dull your mind? Or was the study somehow flawed?
The researchers aren’t 100% sure, and neither am I. What do you think?
15 Comments on “Does Multi-tasking Dull Your Mind?”
says:
Great post. In my experience, when I multi-task I'm in knee-jerk mode. I get things done, but my performance level is sort of a reversion to the mean moment. The times when I'm in the top 1% I have to give my whole mind over to a task, in particular I have to give the part of my mind over that usually acts as administrator when I'm multi-tasking.
says:
That is the case with me. When I focus on one task at a time I get a lot done. Unfortunately I'm usually doing the opposite. I'm usually multi-tasking, getting distracted, and getting almost nothing done.
That's an interesting study. It makes sense. I need to learn how to focus on one task at a time.
says:
Love the “administrator” concept – and the “knee-jerk” comparison. Multi-tasking is very reactionary; you frantically respond to every little thing that comes your way, getting constantly interrupted as you go.
Do you think all that “knee-jerk” reacting can end up damaging your overall mental abilities?
says:
Focusing is surprisingly hard, isn't it? Especially when you get used to the “high” of multi-tasking. But when you finally force yourself to concentrate on getting one thing done at a time, the results are worth it.
says:
I agree. When I focus, I can accomplish so much more. You are definitely right on that point. I used to view multi-tasking as a positive but lately I am becoming more and more convinced that it actually quite distracting.
says:
Like most things, done in moderation, no. Like most things, done in moderation, yes:)
says:
That's exactly what I've noticed, Nicholas. What things “tipped you off” about multi-tasking. For me, it was looking at my to-do lists at the end of the day and realizing how little I get done by multi-tasking.
says:
Of course, I meant to say, in the second clause of the comment, done in EXCESS, yes.
says:
Honestly, what tipped me off was seeing a couple of articles like this one. If don't remember the first time I saw an article about this but it was because of an article like this that I realized how much time I was wasting by multi-tasking. Then as I looked at my actual progress I realized that what I was reading was true.
says:
One of my major justifications for multi-tasking was always that I accomplished so many things at once and felt productive…the reality however is that once I really started focusing a hundred percent on the task at hand, I was much more thorough, the quality of what I was doing increased and so did my productivity. However, the best benefit I have noticed about being in the moment and fully engaged with only one task is that it contributes to a clear mind and not feeling so scattered. It allows you to truly give everything you have to what you are doing and although the feelings may be intangible, they are powerful and motivate you to do even more. Thanks for the post and confirming that the benefits of maintaining a singular focus is supported by research.
says:
I've noticed a lot of the same things. Single-tasking feels strange at first (after a lifetime of multi-tasking), but it's much less exhausting in the end.
Thanks for stopping by!
says:
I like to multi-task, or, I like to be able to say to myself that I'm a multi-tasker. But in reality, I prefer to be left alone and work on the task at hand. That's also why I prefer to receive an IM on Messenger at the office from the co-workers, despite the fact that they are sitting just in front of me :)
It's just, when somebody talks to you, you have to reply, right? So all the things you have in your human RAM, might get flushed – or some of it. If you receive an IM, you will be able to finish what you're doing or quickly wrap it up if you're into something complicated, and then reply to the message.
says:
Well the only thing I can say is that is seems to be affecting memory negatively. The more you think about a million things the less effective your memory becomes, its like jerk of all trades master of none. Great post. Thanks.
says:
The samurai trained hard so that they would have super human single tasking focus. I think they knew that if you are going completely after what you need to do, than the things happening around you will not stop you from acheiving your goal.
says:
I can definitely see that happening – and feel it happening when I take on too many things at once. Thanks for leaving a comment, Dayo!