Yahoo Lifestyle Neurologists Are Begging You To Break This Super Common Work Habit
Everyone loves a shortcut. A back road that shortens your commute, combination beauty products (like foundation with sunscreen), AI tools that work faster than you can…They all come in handy from time to time. When it comes to getting through your to-do list as quickly as possible, there’s one shortcut many people take that brain experts warn against: multitasking.
If you’re a notorious multitasker, you may want to rethink the way you work. According to brain health experts, this common work habit is actually detrimental to brain health. Wondering why? Keep reading to find out—and try not to do anything else while you do it.
Related: 14 Specific Ways You May Be Able to Prevent Dementia, According to Neurologists
How Multitasking Impacts the Brain
If you’re in a habit of sending emails while attending virtual meetings or doing a tedious work task while also listening to a podcast, it’s time to rethink the way you work. According to Dr. Jeffrey Portnoy, PhD, a neuropsychologist at Holy Name Medical Center, multitasking is impossible. “Parts of the brain dedicated to performing specific activities can only do one task at a time, although it can be fractions of a second between when one is completed and another is started,” Dr. Portnoy says.
🩺 SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week 💊
Dr. Portnoy says that when people say they are multitasking, what is actually happening is that the brain is switching between multiple tasks very quickly. “While they are technically only doing one thing at a time, they are able to pick back up with tasks more easily and waste minimal time backtracking, which makes it seem like they are doing several things at once,” he explains. The exception to this is when one of the tasks can be done without thinking about it, such as folding laundry or emptying the dishwasher while talking on the phone.
Related: A New Study Finds This One Food Habit Has a Huge Impact on Cognitive Decline
Dr. Muhammad Arshad, MD, a neurologist at Memorial Hermann, says that the brain is not designed for heavy-duty multitasking. He explains that although it takes less than a second to switch between tasks, continuing to do this makes the brain work harder than it would if it was focusing on one task at a time. “Multitasking may seem efficient on the surface, but may actually take more time in the end and involve more error. Even brief mental blocks created by shifting between tasks can cost as much as 40% of someone's productive time,” he says.
Dr. Portnoy adds to this, saying that while multitasking doesn’t cause any long-term brain damage, it’s less efficient than completing tasks one at a time and tends to result in higher levels of stress and greater mental exhaustion, in addition to lower quality performance of each task.
Related: 'I'm a Neurologist—I'm Begging Everyone to Do These Three Things to Lower Their Alzheimer's Risk'
What To Do Instead of Multitasking
Instead of multitasking, both brain experts recommend focusing on one task at a time. “The brain's preferred way of completing tasks is one at a time so that the full focus is on doing all the parts of one activity efficiently, rather than dividing the focus across different areas. If you are in a situation where you have to pause before completing an activity, leave yourself a brief note that will help you remember your place and get back on track when you start up again,” Dr. Portnoy says.
Besides doing one task at a time, Dr. Portnoy says it can be helpful to work breaks into your workday. While you may think this is the opposite of being productive, it isn’t! “It's important to remember that the brain will continue to work in the background even after you step away from a project, so taking short breaks to clear your head and refresh yourself can actually be a very positive thing,” Dr. Portnoy says.
Both brain experts also say that it’s important to consistently get good sleep if you want to support your brain while you work. “Get adequate help when required to complete your tasks at work and try not to stay too late to finish work all once to avoid progressive burnout,” Dr. Arshad advises. They both also say it’s important to eat a nutrient-rich diet and stay hydrated. The brain can’t work properly if it isn’t fueled properly.
Focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking isn’t just better for your brain; it’s more enjoyable too. Focusing on each task separately allows you to enjoy the task more—and you’ll be less mentally fatigued when you’re done.
Up Next:
Sources
Dr. Jeffrey Portnoy, PhD, neuropsychologist at Holy Name Medical Center
Dr. Muhammad Arshad, MD, neurologist at Memorial Hermann
