5 Reasons Multi-Tasking is Not an Asset to our Lives

by Barbara Latta

Multi-tasking is not an asset

"Too many priorities paralyze us," John Maxwell.

Multi-tasking has become the buzz word for resume' writing. The more we appear to be able to do, the better we think we will appear to a potential employer. The idea is that we accomplish more in less time, but the truth is doing more than one thing at a time divides our attention and nothing gets 100% of the effort.

Here are 5 reasons multi-tasking is not an asset to our lives:

1. The brain gets divided – our brains are wired to focus on one thing at a time. Trying to switch gears from one act to another can sabotage the goal of finishing what we started because attention is divided and the brain has to stop and start thinking again about what has to be done.
2. Productivity is lost  – because our brain had to stop and start we can lose our place and become frustrated with work and have to start over again.
3. Distraction is dangerous – loss of focus can mean distraction; a driver on a cell phone can not give 100% of the attention to the road; cell phone usage while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. Walking while using a cell phone is equally hazardous. People have bumped into walls, stepped into traffic, fallen into mall fountains and hit other people while using a phone and walking at the same time. Distraction in the kitchen can cause burns, cuts or ruined food. Also, criminals search for people who are distracted as their next victims. Accidents can happen in any situation where a person is not paying attention.
4. Memory can be damaged – a study conducted by the University of California San Francisco created a visual experiment by flashing images to a group of participants and then researchers quickly changed the pictures; the group viewing the images had a difficult time switching back to the first picture or remembering details about it. Short term memory was affected.
5. We aren’t as good at it as we think – students who study while watching TV, talking on their cell phone or playing video games make lower grades than those who study without distraction. Anything we do deserves our undivided attention. Once we accomplish the task at hand, we are then ready to move on to something else.

This list can also apply to the call of God on our lives. A plumber who also wants to be a

Distraction is dangerous.

painter cannot excel at both at the same time. One of the jobs will suffer because he or she cannot spend enough time on each one to become excellent. That doesn’t mean a plumber can’t paint sometimes or a painter can fix plumbing on occasion, but if one of these is the main calling of that person’s life, one thing should be studied and worked on with diligence.

Paul stated,  “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 NKJV). Staying focused on the present goal can produce excellence in work, study, hobbies and relationships.

Press on one task at a time.

Join the conversation.

Multi-tasking is not an asset (click to tweet)

Productivity is lost when multi-tasking is the goal (clickto tweet)