Multitasking

Do you multitask?

Many ADDers are self proclaimed multitaskers. But, when you multitask are you really being more productive or are you doing yourself and others a disservice?

According to a recent NBC Nightly News report, The Myth of Multi-tasking, although a majority of American workers spend much of their day multitasking, the human brain can only process so much at once.

In another article entitled, Juggling Too Many Tasks Could Make You Stupid, managing two mental tasks at once reduces the brainpower available for either task.

Here’s a good example of this: About a month ago I decided that I would “kill two birds with one stone” by calling my mom while making dinner. Well, normally this wouldn’t be a big problem but, I was trying to follow a new recipe! Needless to say, things did not work out as planned. I misread some important measurements in the recipe because I was not completely focused on what I was doing. So, not only did I mess up dinner, I did not give my mom the complete attention she deserved.

I know that many of you are probably saying "if I didn't multitask, I wouldn't get anything done”. I'm not trying to tell you not to multitask. I just want you to be aware of the ultimate costs to your relationships, productivity, and mental health.

Here are some things to consider:
1. Increase the time in between stopping one task and starting another, to give the brain time to adjust.
2. Don't try to perform two mental tasks that require the same part of the brain. (i.e. listening to a news program on the radio while trying to listen to a phone conversation)
3. Save multitasking for rote boring tasks that don't require much brainpower (i.e. folding clothes while watching TV)
4. It is extremely important for an ADDer not to attempt to multitask when having a conversation with someone or when trying to complete tasks that require a lot of focus.
5. If multitasking is creating stress – stop doing it. Research shows that high stress multitasking is associated with short-term memory loss.