I've been multitasking all day and haven't gotten a thing done.
For a long time I've suspected that multitasking, while much lauded, isn't good for a person's health or career. But now, thanks to Harvard Business Review blogger Peter Bregman, I have proof.
In his most recent entry, Bregman looks at "How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking." Here are some of the facts he cites:
1. "A study showed that people distracted by incoming email and phone calls saw a 10-point fall in their IQs.
2. When we do several things at once "our productivity goes down by as much as 40 percent."
3. "Research shows that heavy multitaskers are less competent at doing several things at once than light multitaskers."
What will happen if you give up multitasking? Bregman conducted an experiment in which he gave up multitasking for one week. This actions resulted in:
1. Less stress. He found it "delightful."
2. Significant progress on challenging projects.
3. A loss of patience for things that he felt were not a good use of his time.
4. Tremendous patience for things he felt were useful and enjoyable.
5. "There was no downside. I lost nothing by not multitasking. No projects were left unfinished. No one became frustrated with me for not answering a call or failing to return an email the second I received it."
Tomorrow, I'm going to try a day without multitasking. Maybe I'll get something done.
