Why is multitasking harmful?

What is multitasking?

Multitasking is the ability to perform more than one task or activity at the same time, like speaking on the phone while driving. While it might seem like a great way to get more done, research suggests otherwise. Here are some reasons why you should avoid multitasking:

Multitasking Lowers IQ  

An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from a set of standardized tests. The term “IQ" was coined by the psychologist William Stern. The higher your IQ is, the smarter you are. Albert Einstein, one of the smartest men ever alive, had an IQ of 166. The average human has an IQ 80-85. Multitasking for long periods can lower your IQ by up to 15 points, equivalent to the IQ of an 8-year-old. It interrupts your work and leads to forgetting what you are doing, reducing your overall efficiency.

Multitasking leads to brain damage

Multitasking can damage the anterior cingulate cortex-the part of the brain responsible for emotional intelligence, reducing empathy over time. This was proved by study from the University of Sussex (UK) who ran MRI scans on the brains of individuals who spent time on multiple devices at once (texting while watching TV, for example).

Multitasking lowers your work quality and efficiency

Multitasking makes it more difficult to organize thoughts and filter out irrelevant information, and it reduces the efficiency and quality of your work.  this can lead to the slowing down of your work and also all the jobs you multitasked being worse than you wanted it to be. Multitasking may seem to be the best option but doing tasks individually often produces better results.

Multitasking causes stress and anxiety

It causes stress and anxiety, because you are not sure if you have done either of the tasks well, leading to stress. A study found that the more students multitasked while using their computers the more stress they experienced. The constant bombardment of information to which they were trying to respond elevated their stress responses, which means that chronic multitasking can lead to chronic stress.

Multitasking causes overwhelm and burnout. 

Multitasking can make you feel overwhelmed, leading to burnout. This can result in a loss of interest in your work and further stress and anxiety.

Multitasking leads to more mistakes

Trying to do several things quickly can cause you to overlook important details or make mistakes. This can have negative consequences for your work and reputation.

You are losing memory

Interrupting one task to suddenly focus on another can be enough to disrupt short term memory, according to a 2011 study. When University of California San Francisco researchers asked participants to study one scene, but then abruptly switched to a different image, people ages 60 to 80 had a harder time than those in their 20s and 30s disengaging from the second picture and remembering details about the first. As the brain ages, researchers say, it has a harder time getting back on track after even a brief detour.

Multitasking shortens your attention span 

Multitasking can promote a shorter attention span as you jump from one thing to another. Growing your attention span will help you to concentrate on one task for longer instead of getting restless and wanting to change to another.

It can be dangerous

Texting or talking on a cell phone, even hands-free, is as dangerous as drunk driving. However, this doesn't deter many adults from engaging in this behavior, even with their children in the car. The risks of multitasking extend beyond driving. Studies indicate that individuals using mobile devices while walking are more prone to neglect looking before entering a crosswalk. Furthermore, in one study, 20% of teenagers treated in emergency rooms for car-related injuries reported smartphone usage at the time of their accident.

It makes you overeat

Distractions during meals can hinder your brain's ability to fully register what you've consumed, as indicated by a 2013 review of 24 studies. This may lead to a less satisfying feeling of fullness, potentially causing you to eat more or snack soon after. Experts suggest that individuals dining alone should avoid watching TV during meals and instead focus on their food. If you're having lunch at your computer, it's advisable to pause and disconnect from the screen, concentrating on each mouthful.

These points illustrate that multitasking is not only unproductive but essentially non-existent; what we perceive as multitasking is merely shifting rapidly between tasks. Furthermore, this practice can be detrimental to humans.