Multitasking is a Myth - Alternative Small Office Home Office

Right along with time management, multitasking is a myth. The mind can only concentrate on one thing at a time.

The human brain, with its hundred billion neurons and hundreds of trillions of synaptic connections, is a cognitive powerhouse in many ways. “But a core limitation is an inability to concentrate on two things at once,” said René Marois, a neuroscientist and director of the Human Information Processing Laboratory at Vanderbilt University.

…

“We are under the impression that we have this brain that can do more than it often can,” observed Mr. Marois…

Slow Down, Multitaskers; Don’t Read in Traffic (NYTimes)

I believe we, as humans, simply like to feel as though we’re more productive by trying to juggle a bunch of things at one time…

Personally, I’ll stick to the sage advice I was given a long time ago: Whatever you’re doing in the moment, give your full attention to it. If you’re working, focus on working; If you’re eating, focus on eating; If you’re playing, focus on playing; And if you’re sleeping, well, sleep soundly.