The early part of the 21st century may eventually be described by historians as the "era of distraction." Life has speeded up and often we find ourselves trying to do several things at the same time. Unfortunately, we often become distracted, lose focus, and sometimes struggle to complete tasks. In extreme instances -- for example, while driving a car -- a high level of distraction can lead to death.
Multitasking is pervasive in our society, but that does not mean it is a good thing. When you multitask, you may think you are getting a lot done, but there's a cost when the tasks compete for the same (and limited) cognitive resources (e.g., attention, working memory) and draw on the same brain circuitry. This is true, no matter how good you think you are at multitasking. There's just too much competition for the same neural circuits and what you end up with is a compromise. Neither task is performed as well as it is when performed alone.
What are the effects of multitasking in the workplace? Multitasking may actually be counterproductive. It seems that e-mail, instant messaging, cell phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), which keep us all connected and allow many of us to do our jobs, can also diminish productivity.
A study by Basex, Inc., a knowledge-management research firm in New York, reported that knowledge workers (people whose work output is mainly informational in nature, e.g., creating documents, reports, studies, inventions, or patents) waste an average of two hours a day due to interruptions from e-mails, co-workers, and cell phones. Recovery time from each interruption can vary but it comes with a stiff price tag for the American economy: $650 billion every year.
How good are you at multitasking? Try this …
Part I:
- Take a blank sheet of paper and write on the top: Multitasking is inefficient.
- With a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand, start timing how long it takes you to recopy the phrase Multitasking is inefficient.
- There is a catch: Every time you write down a letter in the phrase, on a line below the phrase, write down a corresponding number (beginning with 1).
- See how long it takes you to write the phrase Multitasking is inefficient and the list of numbers from 1 to 25.
- Write down your time for completion at the bottom of the page.
Part II:
- Take another blank sheet of paper.
- With a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand, start timing how long it takes to write the phrase Multitasking is inefficient.
- When you are finished writing the phrase, immediately write down the numbers 1 through 25 on a separate line.
- Write down your time for completion at the bottom of the page.
- Compare your two times. Don't be surprised to find that it takes you twice as long to complete Part I (when you forced yourself to multitask) than Part II.
