Baby Boomer Health – The Multitasking Illusion
Welcome to this weeks edition of Baby Boomer Health – The Multitasking Illusion
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This is your host, Denise Boomer and Dr. Bee Boomer, welcoming you to this weeks edition of the Baby Boomer Health on PodcastForBoomers.com.
This week we are talking about The Multitasking Illusion.
Multitasking is the switching between projects/tasks quickly and causes inefficiency, stress and lower productivity. You lose your focus when you switch between tasks frequently. You really just can't do that well. We can do a couple of things at the same time if they are routine but if a task demands more cognitive processes the brain becomes a bottleneck.
When a bunch of visual stimuli are in front of you, only one or two things get through to your brain. And when you move back and forth between tasks you lose time. This time is lost as the brain begins again to work on the new project.
One group looked at text messaging and driving in people between 17 and 24. Their reaction time decreased by 35% and was slower then driving drunk. Some multitasking can get you killed.
Dr. Hallowell coined the phrase "attention deficit trait". This springs entirely from the environment. This leads to inefficiency and under production.
So how do we fix this? Set boundaries for yourself and others. Turn off your cell phone at work. Don't allow cell phones in a meeting. Decrease your interruptions so you can concentrate on the task in front of you. And remember to eat right and get plenty of sleep – remember both are required for being efficient.
Thanks for listening.
Remember your comments are always welcome.
Stay active!
Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Bee Boomer and Denise Boomer saying good bye!
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Comments on Baby Boomer Health – The Multitasking Illusion
Great advice! I am a multi-tasker, have been all my life. Efficiency and safety can be compromised while muti-tasking.
I constantly work hard at prioritizing what needs to be done first. It takes work to change habits, but it can be done. Here's to slowing down and focusing on one thing at a time, or maybe two?
Hi Doctor,
I flip back and forth between many ideas and projects with my ADD kind of brain. I have to follow a schedule to get anything done consistently. If I make it into a bit of a ritual I can attend to many different projects, getting work done on each, and I feel productive when I do that. Progress is a bit slower, but it happens across many fronts. Mike Logan
Cathy,
I really understand. I'm a multi-tasker as well. For me part of it developed with having children, listening and watching them and doing other things as well.
Slowing down and focusing sounds like a worthwhile goal. Two sounds like a great number to me.
Hi Mike,
Sound like you're doing mini focus sessions for each of your projects. Targeting one goal at a time on a schedule is certainly one way to get things done.
And if you can't stay interested (or don't want to) in just one project, your schedule method sounds like one which works for you.