Multiple things at the same time: how the brain pays for the rush

Answering a message, finishing a work report, preparing dinner and at the same time thinking about plans for the evening – many are used to doing all this almost non-stop. It seems that you can have more time, but in fact, the constant switching between things often takes time and effort.

The Kaliningrad Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention explained when multitasking really helps, and when it interferes with concentration and increases fatigue.

It is convenient to combine several tasks if they do not require full concentration. For example, you can listen to a podcast while cleaning or play music while cooking dinner.

Quickly switching between tasks can be useful in unexpected situations, when you need to quickly respond to what is happening. But if work requires attention and deep immersion, constant distractions can only get in the way.

The human brain cannot perform several complex tasks at the same time. Instead, he quickly switches from one to the other, collecting his attention again each time.

Because of this, work takes more time, the likelihood of errors increases, and remembering information becomes more difficult. If you are constantly distracted by notifications, messages and other things, by the end of the day, severe fatigue may appear.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, try to focus on one thing. To do this, it is necessary to allocate tasks according to importance in advance, allocate separate time for them and turn off notifications that do not require an immediate response.

It is equally important to take short breaks. They help to regain attention and return to work with new forces.

Multitasking isn’t always bad, but it’s worth using wisely. Simple tasks can be combined, and tasks that require concentration, it is better to perform in turn.