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om through a variety of activities. People are more prone to multitask due to increased cognitive needs. A student may study or read a book, while enjoying songs. Synchronisation of left and right sides of the brain assists people to be effective learners. Features of the cutting edge technology and tech gadgets allow you to enjoy music while gardening.
Making this a regular habit, you may come up with creative hints – i.e. rearrange and beautify the garden. The boredom of household routine jobs is likely to be on the lower side, with simultaneous activities. Similarly, when a person checks email, a telephone conversation can be carried out at the same time. However, it is subject to question, as to whether the task is performed with some amount of mediocrity.
Error rate
Surprisingly, multitaskers make up to 50% more errors. Multitasking drains the memory capacity and reasoning ability. I have had encounters with (really) busy front office customer service staff in the financial services industry. ‘Unless multitasked, we cannot complete the day’s work’, they opined. These employees aim to be good jugglers. However, their error rates have risen; work quality has fallen. Eventually their stress and burnout levels have soared. A recent Harvard Business Review post revealed multitasking leads to as much as a 40% drop in productivity, increased stress, and 10% drop in intelligence levels.
Injury
Sri Lanka records alarming statistics with a higher number of road accidents. International surveys reveal that injury crashes as much as 20% are attributable to distraction caused in multitasking. Texting or talking from a cell phone distracts driving, delays driver reactions as much as a drunk driver and takes driver’s eyes from the road. Mobile phone conversations compete for attention while driving. When drivers talk on a cell phone (either hand-held or hands-free), the visual processing gets substantially impaired. It is reasonable to assume that Sri Lanka is not an exception to risks arising from similar incidents. On the other hand, when a driver talks with a passenger, it helps himself to be in track, be more alert that even an exit would not be a miss.
Mental capacity
Quality thinking time and good ideas generally flow when the human brain is not flooded, nor exhausted with many tasks at a given time. People, who are interrupted have to switch their attention back and forth, can take even 50% longer to accomplish a task. In a study of Microsoft employees, after responding to e-mail or instant messages, workers took on average 15 minutes to get back to intense mental tasks. Heavy multitaskers are found to be poor in filtering the irrelevant stimulations. Such people may not capture the gravity of primary tasks. Trying to fit multiple things into their attention span is the very reason for the distraction.
Now that pitfalls are highlighted, let’s consider some recovery alternatives. As mentioned in the onset, this is where the suggestions based on gut feeling come handy.
First, slow down and have a look around the activities you do. Be mindful of the tasks you perform. During the day, when do you have the most energy? What is the nature of priority? Schedule the tasks that are of ‘heavy’ nature, for your peak time. Matters of trivial importance can be allocated in the off peak. Take regular breaks to revive yourself.
People are unique; their skills and abilities too. Know people’s distinctive capabilities. This is not restricted to workspace. Be it a domestic unit, a not for profit entity, delegation allots the burden of tasks to be carried out. Today, even four generations of workforce may be employed under one entity. So embrace and tap the advantage of diversity. Delegating tasks to specific staff members really works. Not only that they do it well, but worker satisfaction will also bring suggestions for improvements.
Grab the good version of multitasking. Tasks of similar nature can be grouped together. Correspondence work can stay uninterrupted with project work. Set aside timing limits and expectations. Do not forget to let others know these by communicating your schedule and work plan with them. Most importantly, get the message right – ‘Be a smart worker, not just a hard worker’.
We live in a milieu, where tech savvy provides plenty of options to choose from. We are constantly engaged with these tech devices. People usually make rational choices. Our ability to be in charge of the circumstances within our control has been recently weakened. So take time to switch off.
We are blessed with abundant concepts of practical flavour. Pareto’s rule guides us to wisely select the vital 20% that make up 80% of your life. Simplify your life and tasks. Do fewer things, better. Accomplish more with less!
References:
nhttp://profitablespa.com/starting-statistics-on-the-negative-effects-of-multitasking/
nhttp://workplacepsychology.net/2011/01/04/multitasking-doesnt-work/
Writer is an ACMA (UK), MBA (Sri J), Pg. Diploma (Colombo), counting over a decade experience in the financial services industry. She is passionate about contributing ideas for a ‘better’ Sri Lanka. The writer can be reached via [email protected]
