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Multitasking myth

The mistaken belief that you can do several thinking tasks at once without cost; research finds switching between tasks slows people down and adds errors.

What It Means

The multitasking myth is the common belief that you can do two or more thinking tasks at the same time as well as you'd do each one alone. Psychology research describes two kinds of multitasking: doing two things at once, and switching back and forth between them. Both come with costs, and the American Psychological Association (APA) sums up the switching research this way: people take longer and make more mistakes when they switch than when they stick with one task.

Try It: Three Questions on Multitasking

Tap an answer for each question. Answers come from the APA's summary of the research.

1. Switching between two tasks usually makes you

2. Doing two tasks at the very same moment costs

3. Half a second of divided attention for a driver on a phone at 30 mph

Correct0
Out of3

How People Say It

  • "I'm a great multitasker, I can text and listen."
  • "Sorry, what did you say? I was answering an email."
  • "I got nothing done today, I kept jumping between things."

The Breakdown

How to single-task instead

  1. Write down everything competing for your attention, so it's out of your head.
  2. Pick one task and close the tabs, apps and windows the others live in.
  3. Silence notifications for a set stretch, such as 25 or 50 minutes.
  4. When a new thought or request comes up, add it to your list and go back to the task.
  5. Batch small, similar jobs, such as replies and quick calls, into one block later.

These steps are Buhata's own suggestion, built on the APA's point that each switch has a cost.

Try it today. For your next task, put your phone in another room and set a 25-minute timer.

Two kinds of multitasking

KindWhat it looks likeWhat research finds
Doing two at onceTyping an email while on a callWorse performance than doing one task
Switching back and forthWriting a report, checkingChecking accountA bank or credit union account for everyday money going in and out, used by debit card, checks, transfers and direct deposit. See more chat, back to the reportSlower, with more errors

Good to Know

Driving is the APA's own example of why switch costs matter: it notes that a half-second lapse while on a phone can be the difference between stopping in time and hitting an obstacle, so leave calls and texts until you've parked. At a desk the stakes are lower, but the same research says each switch still slows you down and adds mistakes.

FAQ

Is multitasking really a myth?

Doing two thinking tasks at once without any cost is. The APA's summary of the research says people take longer and make more errors when switching between tasks than when staying with one.

What is a switch cost?

It's the drop in speed or accuracy that comes from moving your attention from one task to another. The APA's driving example shows how even half a second of it can matter.

How do I stop multitasking at work?

Work on one task at a time for a set stretch, silence notifications during it, and save quick replies for a batch later. Writing new requests on a list lets you keep going without losing them.

Do It in Buhata

Focus and Tasks

Pick one item from Tasks in Buhata and give it a countdown in Focus with everything else closed until it ends.

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Related Terms and Categories

  • Attention residue

    Thoughts about an earlier task that stay with you after you switch to a new one, leaving less attention for the work in front of you.

  • Context switching

    Moving your attention from one task to another and back, which costs time and focus each time your mind has to reset for the new task.

  • Deep work

    Focused, distraction-free time spent on a mentally demanding task, a term from author Cal Newport's 2016 book Deep Work.

  • Task batching

    Grouping similar small tasks, such as email, calls or errands, and doing them together in one block of time instead of scattering them through the day.

Productivity methods and focus

Sources

American Psychological Association, "Multitasking: Switching costs"; "Multicosts of Multitasking" (PubMed Central); "Editorial: Multitasking: Executive Functioning in Dual-Task and Task Switching Situations" (PubMed Central)

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