Discover the reasons multitasking is hurting your life and learn why you should consider swapping that habit for something healthier in the future.
Do you think you are good at multitasking?
I might possibly be the worst multitasker in history!
It’s not even possible for me to talk to someone while making a simple breakfast- I burn everything!
I once tried to fold laundry while watching tv, and I swear I only folded one shirt the entire 20 minutes.
I am seriously bad at multitasking.
Nearly everyone can make multitasking look easier than I can, but the bigger question is whether or not we should be multitasking in the first place.
Is it helping or hurting us?
It is human nature to want to make the most of our limited hours every day, and multitasking seems like the perfect way to do it. But as multitasking has gotten more attention, studies are showing that it may not be the fantastic time-saver we were all hoping it was.
In fact, most research has come to the conclusion that multitasking actually makes us less productive and wreaks havoc in other areas of our lives.
Today I want to share with you 10 reasons multitasking is hurting your life.
The scarcity of time is the reason we have to concentrate on one thing at a time.
Matt Perman
What is multitasking?
Before we look at the problems with multitasking, it’s important for us to be on the same page about what it is.
Multitasking is not just about doing a lot of things at once, though that is one common form of it.
Another form of multitasking is switching tasks or tackling vastly different tasks quickly after each other.
Here are some real-life examples of multitasking that you may be doing already:
- Keeping your email inbox open while working on a different document
- Going back and forth between reading a book and texting a friend
- Answering emails for 5 minutes, then organizing papers for 10 minutes, then cleaning the kitchen for 7 minutes, then checking emails again for 2 minutes, and so on…
- Talking on the phone while you are walking home from work
10 negative effects of multitasking you should be aware of
Now that we know what it is, it’s time to look at the different reasons multitasking is hurting your life.
Reason #1: You will become less capable of ignoring distractions
Most of the time, we feel good after multitasking because we feel like we got a lot done, but research has actually shown the opposite.
People who were asked to switch tasks got a lot less done than the people who were given one task to do for a longer period of time.
Related Post: How To Stay Focused With One Simple Mind Hack
Reason #2: You are making more mistakes than you realize
When you attempt to multitask, you are splitting your focus amongst a few different things. This causes some details to be ignored in each task, and it can lead to some pretty serious mistakes.
Texting while driving, for example, is one of the most dangerous things you can do on the road.
When you are multitasking these two tasks, you are bound to miss a few things.
When the mistake is texting-related, that’s not so bad, but when the mistake is in our driving, that could cost a life.
Your mistakes might even make you feel less successful over time.
If you were studying for a test while watching tv, you will be bound to miss some important points in your work. You might fail your test and feel like it was a problem with your intelligence, not a problem with your multitasking habits.
Related Post: 15 Powerful Healthy Habits When Working From Home is Killing You
Reason #3: You are losing time transitioning from task to task
Changing tasks will definitely make you feel like you’re getting a lot done, but the time it takes to transition to a new task is actually taking longer than you think.
One study was able to confirm this. The researchers found that switching tasks wasted a lot of time in the transition, especially if the tasks were more complex.
So even if you feel like you’re doing more, it is likely taking longer than you think.
Related Post: 10 Foolproof Ways to Stop Multitasking and Skyrocket Productivity
Reason #4: Your brain will have more trouble telling the difference between important and unimportant details
One study looked at multitasking habits over the course of a 7-day period.
They found that the people who multitasked more often had trouble with distractibility throughout the day, regardless of whether or not they were multitasking at the time.
No one quite knows why this is the case, but the general theory is that when we get so used to being interrupted by so many stimuli in our multitasking, we stop being able to tell which interruptions are important and which ones are unimportant.
Related Post: How To Do A Brain Dump To Stop Overthinking Now!
Reason #5: You might be ruining relationships you have with others
How does it feel when you are sharing something you feel is important with a loved one and they interrupt you to check on their phone?
Not good, right?
With the invention of smartphones, this multitasking issue has become a huge issue in marriages.
In fact, it is such a problem that we have a word for it now- technoference– and it is damaging the health of families around the world.
Multitasking with your phone might seem possible to you, but it is hurting those around you more than you think.
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Reason #6: You are experiencing more stress because of multitasking
When you are constantly getting information and tasks thrown at you, your brain has to stay on high alert to keep up with it all.
Your body, in turn, responds with higher blood pressure and adrenaline to keep you going.
But your body wasn’t built to be on a constant high.
If you’re not careful, you could end up with chronic stress.
Whenever demands exceed abilities, stress is bound to follow.
Chris Woolston
Reason #7: You miss the simpler things in life that bring joy and fulfillment
One of the reasons multitasking is hurting your life is that you won’t be able to give your full focus to every task.
Some things will be missed.
In some cases, it’s harmless, but in other cases, you are missing out on the simpler things in life that can bring you joy.
Take walks, for example.
If you are walking home from work while checking your email on your phone, you will see some of what’s around you, but you will definitely be missing the details that would have made your walk ten times more enjoyable.
I’ve often seen this happen with parents before, too.
They were so distracted by work or chores that they never fully paid attention to their children.
They missed out on so many valuable connections with their children that were lost due to multitasking.
Related Post: How to Enjoy Life’s Simple Pleasures
Reason #8: Your memory will suffer
Studies have shown a direct relation to the amount of multitasking a person does and their memory.
The more they multitask, the worse their memory is. So next time you think that multitasking while studying is a good idea, think again!
It’s not as effective as you may think.
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Reason #9: You are more likely to overeat
In Ayurvedic practices, they go so far as to suggest that you don’t even talk to others while you eat.
Though I don’t feel this is feasible for our daily schedules, the argument is reasonable.
When you are only paying half-attention to your food, your body isn’t quite understanding how much food you are ingesting.
It might not occur to your body that you are full, or you might not stay full for as long as you might have if you had focused solely on the food you were eating.
A more reasonable way to accommodate this is to put away the screens, books, and work while you eat.
Related Post: How to Practice Mindful Eating and Actually Enjoy Your Food
Reason #10: Your creativity is being stifled
A creative atmosphere requires a little bit of room for the mind to wander.
When you are too stimulated by the countless distractions around you, your brain won’t have the chance to settle in and come up with creative ideas.
As nice as entertainment and stimulation can be, it is also important to have moments of stillness and, well, boredom!
Related Post: How to Simplify Your Life with the 80/20 Rule
Boredom triggers mind-wandering, and then mind wandering leads to creativity.
John Eastwood
The negative effects of multitasking are extensive, and the benefit you may feel you get from multitasking simply isn’t worth it.
It can harm your overall health, stifle your creativity, ruin your relationships, and dampen the enjoyment of life.
It’s time to leave the multitasking behind and replace it with healthier methods of productivity and prioritizing.
For some healthier approaches to making the most of your time, check out these posts that can help you:
- How to Keep Up With Emails When You’re Too Busy
- How to Use Your Phone With Intention and Purpose
- How to Find Work Life Balance When You’re Too Busy
- How to Enjoy Life’s Simple Pleasures
- How to Intentionally Cut Back on TV Time
- How to Stay Focused with One Simple Mind Hack
Do you have any more reasons multitasking is hurting your life? When does it feel like a good idea to multitask?
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