Do One Thing at a Time

"Most of us are inundated constantly with demands for our attention. So I don't need to tell you how stressful it feels. It can be tempting (and sometimes necessary) to try to attend to two tasks simultaneously. Sometimes, it's harmless - like listening to a podcast while working out. Other times, trying to pay attention to more than one thing at a time costs us more than we might realize."

"Intentionally trying to tackle more than one task at the same time is often referred to as multitasking. In our busy, fast-paced lives, multitasking can seem natural and even necessary. Sometimes, we take a phone call while making dinner. In many professional settings where productivity is idealized as a sign of excellence, multitasking can be encouraged and rewarded."

"we are rapidly switching attention between tasks (referred to as task switching). We tune into the phone conversation and then shift back to making dinner. It happens so rapidly, we sometimes don't notice the switching. Because of the way our brains function to handle tasks, this process of switching back and forth between tasks increases our burden and extends the time it takes for us to complete each task. And, we are more likely to make errors."

Attention is frequently pulled in multiple directions by notifications and environmental demands, creating stress. Multitasking often feels natural in busy lives and can be encouraged in professional settings. The brain does not truly perform simultaneous tasks; it rapidly switches attention between tasks, a process called task switching. Task switching increases cognitive burden, extends time to complete each task, and raises the likelihood of errors. Occasional low-demand combinations, such as listening to a podcast while exercising, can be harmless, but handling multiple demanding tasks concurrently reduces efficiency and contributes to cognitive fatigue and stress.

Read at Psychology Today