Comments on: Why Multitasking Doesn’t Work

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:54:45 +0000

Thanks Steve. According to the neuroscientists, we can’t train our brains to pay attention to more than one thing at a time. You can do a ‘mindless’ activity (e.g. washing the dishes) at the same time as a ‘mindful’ one (radio listening to the radio) but not two tasks that require attention. (Actually, some people would say even washing the dishes is something we should do mindfully, but that’s another story…)

By: Steve Benedict

Steve Benedict — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:34:09 +0000

I just came across this post in a year end review of some of the best articles. I agree in principle, but I think you can train your brain to do several things at once. I try to start every day with a “To Do” list and check them off as I move through. Interruptions happen and I try to stay on task, as I handle other things. I usually try to delegate the interruptions, unless they need my immediate attention. I just keep coming back to my list and keep moving forward.

Best to you in 2010.

Steve

By: Make Time For Time: 3. Single-tasker or task-juggler? « TheUniversityBlog

Make Time For Time: 3. Single-tasker or task-juggler? « TheUniversityBlog — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:02:37 +0000

[...] several things at the same time like this is called task-switching. You aren’t actually doing several things at once, but you have chosen to dilute your focus and switch between several [...]

By: Benefits of attaining the “Flow” state in an Agile software development | Agile Blog: Scaling Software Agility

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:22:30 +0000

[...] To understand “Why Multi-tasking and Task Switching?” do not work, you should read this post from Mark McGuinness at Lateral Action or check out Tom Demarco’s book “Slack” and specifically pages [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:37:27 +0000

@ Ken – Would it be easier to adjust to our brains instead of trying to ‘force’ them to adjust to technology?

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:44:08 +0000

I really hope the massive bombardment of inputs of today’s technological savy society would force our brains to adjust and reach a new balance where multitask (at some sort of conscient level) would be regarded just another thread of being human as developing language should’d looked to the ones using signs and mumbles, who knows, maybe the rise on autism in our kids is just a preamble, had you seen how easy is to them to understand a computer vs a person?

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:07:45 +0000

Great article. I just forwarded it to the moron, propeller head, IT geek who thinks he’s a genius and everyone else is a moron because he can multi-task.

What a joke. He wears two headsets while glancing at his blackberry and running around the office at a fast pace getting absolutely nothing accomplished. But it sure looks impressive!! Ha!

By: Today you get to quit multi-tasking! whoo hoo! « Out of the Cubicle and Into your Life

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:09:39 +0000

[...] http://lateralaction.com/articles/multitasking/ [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:23:14 +0000

@Ray – I agree with Michael (Plish) ‘Fire and forget’ works for some tasks, but it’s really just being organised about doing things sequentially.

When most people talk about multi-tasking they mean trying to do more than one thing at a time that requires attention.

As you say, “You can do multiple things at once as long as some of them require no attention or intervention on your part.” (Although if you’re not intervening, you’re not actually doing anything .)

By: plish

plish — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:24:57 +0000

@Ray,

You are correct but I think most people don’t think of multi-tasking in that way. People think they can do two or more things at the same time. We can’t. Our brains think in serial mode when we’re doing conscious stuff. Try counting forward by three’s and backwards from 100 by 7’s and you’ll see that you can’t, you have to alternate. Which is what is happening actually in your description as well.

Problems occur in the world because people start from the “Fire and Forget” perspective and think that doing that successfully is the same as driving a car in a snow storm while texting.