The Myth of Multitasking
As neuroscience advances, we have come to learn that the human brain is incapable of multitasking. You might think that you’re being productive, but in reality, you are only stressing your brain and sinking your productivity levels.
So why do we spend so much time and effort in order to multitask? And if no such thing really exists and how do we increase our productivity?
According to recent scientific developments, our brain doesn’t actually perform different tasks simultaneously; when you’re under the illusion of multitasking, your brain is just rapidly switching from one task to the other. This takes merely a few milliseconds. While it may seem negligible, all the switching adds up to a considerable delay in response. The cerebral cortex is the executive part of the brain; it makes sure that all engagement is following a set of rules. When you multitask you shift goals, this shift activates a different set of rules as per the goal. The loss of focus and time during this shift is what strains your brain.
Therefore, in order to increase our productivity, it's important to recognize that focusing on one task at a time is key. By doing so, we allow our brain to work at its full capacity without being overwhelmed. It's important to prioritize tasks, take breaks when needed, and practice mindfulness in order to improve our productivity levels.
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