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Multitasking malfunction From ex-girlfriends to meerkats, internet overload can put a serious dent in your productivity, even while it makes you feel good.
I am a champion multi-tasker. I pride myself on my ability to write an email, post something on social media, design something for our next conference, answer my phone, eat a sandwich, and write an editorial. But am I really accomplishing more than I would if I just worked methodically through each task until completion? Is my “ability” to multi-task really such a great asset, or am I just looking for an excuse for my inability to truly focus?
Christina Zweig
assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University, says, “[People who multitask] are not being more productive – they just feel more emotionally satisfied from their work.” Wang’s research suggests that people get used to multitasking, which makes them more likely to continue. “We found what we call a dynamical feedback loop,” she says. “If you multitask today, you’re likely to do so again tomorrow, further “Research shows that people who multitask are not accomplishing more than people who focus on just one thing at a time.”
To some extent, multitasking is necessary in today’s work environment, especially in the AEC industry. You need to be able to look at a project/design/report, respond to emails, research alternatives, focus on a budget, respond to requests, answer questions from coworkers, and much more, almost simultaneously. But this process has its disadvantages, too. Technology has made it easier than ever to focus on more things at once, but it also introduces a lot of unnecessary and unproductive distractions. Research shows that people who multitask are not accomplishing more than people who focus on just one thing at a time. In fact, the brain isn’t focusing on a lot of things at once, but rather switching quickly from task to task. Multitasking is addictive. Researcher Zhen Wang, lead author of a study on multitasking and an
See CHRISTINA ZWEIG, page 12
THE ZWEIG LETTER September 26, 2016, ISSUE 1169
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