Multitasking: Caring or Cruel?

When I read the article “Debunking the Myth of Multitasking” it made me realize that I was guilty of multitasking. The article stated that multitasking can harm how we do on the tasks we are trying to accomplish. It also goes on to show how when we multitask, it reduces our efficiency level on the tasks we are working on completing. The tip it gives us is to shut down our email, turn off the computers and televisions, and turn off the ringers on our cell phones while we are working on something else so we don’t get distracted. This way, all our attention is on that one task, and it gets done the way it should. This makes sense because when you are trying to concentrate on one thing and there are a million other things going on around you distracting you, you lose all focus on what you were trying to do in the first place.

“Juggling two tasks by refocusing your attention back and forth between them, and losing time and progress in the switch.” In the article, Dave Crenshaw explains that switch tasking can be just as harmful as multitasking. Not only do you lose your focus on those tasks, but you lose crucial time that you could be spending on other responsibilities. You could use this time to thoroughly do the task you wanted to finish in the first place, but this time do it in an organized and well sought out manner.

Looking at my study habits, it is probably not a good thing the amount of multitasking I do. Before reading this article, I thought I was getting so much more done because I was doing so many things at once; never once realizing the quality of my work was depleting since I wasn’t devoting all my time to that one duty. After reading this article, I will definitely think twice next time I go to multitask.