With respect to what the author has written:
Author: "When somebody can juggle lots of things at the same time, we often say that they are good “multitaskers.” All of us multitask once in awhile.
But psychologists have been warning us about it for decades. Some say it’s harmful to productivity and others say you can’t do it at all."
Me: I always thought that I was a good multitasker, but turns out that it is harmful to my productivity. So, multi tasking is going to be an obstacle to my productivity.Author: And then there’s the cost that comes with task-switching. There’s a delay when you switch from one thing to another, and sometimes a temporary drop in performance.
Me: This cost should not hinder my performance. I should not switch tasks, because I know the repercussions of my actions.
Summary of the first Article: The Science of Multitasking, and Why You should Doodle in Class
This article says that while many call it “multitasking", it is actually called “rapid task switching”, which hampers performance due to delays, enough to reduce productivity and also when combined with repeated interruptions. Real-world interruptions worsen this: it can take around 25 minutes to regain focus after being side tracked. Despite these risks, low-effort tasks can actually help with concentration like doodling during dull lectures or listening to instrumental music while working. This helps maintain engagement. The author recommends structured, uninterrupted 30-minute work intervals, which allow focused productivity without multitasking. While multitasking is mostly detrimental, Davies, the author, notes that when one task is simple or automatic or used to incubate creative insight, it may offer benefits.
