Multitasking is a myth - stop doing several tasks at the same time

The correct answer to this question is ONE, as opposed to what a majority of voters thought. The human mind is capable of performing one task at a time. Multitasking is not the most

efficient way to go, boys and girls, and Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Science at Fortis Healthcare agrees. So, is multitasking a myth? > It is a 

myth that multitasking is beneficial in improving > efficiency, as the human mind is inherently wired to be focused > selectively on one task at a time in order to ensure minimal human

> errors and thereby improve productivity. Dr Samir Parikh But before we write it off completely, here’s another doctor who doesn’t agree entirely. Dr Sameer Malhotra, Director,

Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Max Hospitals, says that “if organised with appropriate delegation and prioritisation, multitasking lessens the burden and improves the

quality of performance”. But he also adds a word a caution: > If one person tries to do everything together, one can end up > feeling miserable and ineffective, associated with 

substandard > outcome. Dr Sameer Malhotra HOW DOES MULTITASKING AFFECT OUR PRODUCTIVITY? Long story short -multitasking leads to a direct fall in productivity, and both doctors agree on

it. Dr Parikh specifically points that out when he says: > Multitasking, or focusing our attention on multiple tasks at the > same time tends to ensure a divided attention, thereby 

increasing > the risk not only for greater frequency of human errors, but also > increasing our levels of fatigue at the same time impacting our > efficiency adversely. ARE THERE

PARTICULAR PERSONALITY TYPES THAT ARE MORE LIKELY TO MULTITASK? While we are all in the habit of multitasking, doctors point out that some kinds of mental states particularly might make a

person overly active, but also just as under productive. > People who are high on anxiety are likely to multitask. Also, in a > manic state, people end up becoming overactive and 

underproductive. Dr Sameer Malhotra When it comes to specific personality types, high strung people who are always on the move, with long to-do lists are more likely to choose multitasking

as a way of life. > Individuals who are typically always “on the go”, and who tend > to be aspiring to be achieving more than would be expected are > individuals who prefer to 

multitask. Further, these are individuals > who are unable to relax and tend to be restless, getting distracted > easily and can also be hyperactive at times. Dr Samir Parikh HOW TO

GET OUT OF THE HABIT OF MULTITASKING? Now that we have concluded that multitasking is not the best decision when it comes to efficiency and productivity, how do we get out of the habit?

Doctors suggest that it is important to consciously make the decision to focus on a single task at one time. > It is advisable to focus on a single task at hand to ensure higher > 

efficiency and productivity as well as the quality of the task at > hand, even for automated processing of habituated tasks like > driving. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritise 

between a multiple > set of tasks at hand and ensure you take breaks in between to give > time for yourself to recuperate, while handling multiple roles. Dr Samir Parikh Dr Malhotra

agrees with planning and prioritising as being key points, along with adding that it’s important to not over-commit. > Avoid over-commitment and procrastination. It’s important to set

> small targets in line with the larger goals/aims, and to reward > yourself and celebrate small achievements. All of this helps in > maintaining motivation and improves overall 

performance. Dr Sameer Malhotra Published: 06 Nov 2018, 11:07 AM IST