Photo Credit: susanvg
Think you are a good multi-tasker? Think again.
Since you are reading this post, I will assume you are at a computer. You probably have many different applications going on right now and many more processes running in the background. It would appear that your computer is an excellent multi-tasker. What the computer actually does however, is line up the processes and loops through them one by one, spending a fraction of a second on a process, executing the next step, and moving on to the next process. The loop is executed so quickly that to the human eye, it appears the computer is multi-tasking.
Now the sample computer just described is using a single core processor. A duel core processor can handle two processes simultaneously and so on. Each core can be considered a "brain" in the computer. A quad-core computer has 4 "brains". The last time I checked, humans still only have one brain and therefore function in a similar matter to the single core processor. The only difference is computers can block out other distractions more efficiently than humans. Computers don't make errors.
When a person attempts to handle multiple processes, to continue with the computer lingo, simultaneously we end up performing each task slower while increasing our odds for error. There is plenty of research to prove this, which is why many states are passing laws regarding using cell phones while driving. It is too dangerous for us to attempt to perform both tasks at the same time.
Multitasking will not increase your productivity but rather inhibit it. Batch work and uni-tasking, focusing solely on one task will produce better results at a faster rate.
Remember that doing two things at once is doing two things poorly.
-Rex
For more info on not multitasking check out these sites:
Getting Things Done an excellent resource for tips on batch work
Articles on the inefficiencies of human multi-tasking
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