Facts about Multitasking

These days, there is a lot of buzz about multitasking. In the beginning multitasking was considered an advantage and then slowly, people started noticing the other side of the coin. Let us take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages about multitasking. 

Before we jump into that, we need to know what exactly does multi tasking mean. Multi tasking is performing more than two number of tasks simultaneously. 

First let us take a look at some of the advantages of multitasking.

1. Multitasking is helpful when doing simple tasks. For example while talking to someone over the phone you can do some other work simultaneously. For example you can check your mails while talking on phone or you may listen to music or any other audios of your choice, when doing work either at home or at office.
2. Most of the times we post pone doing things because of the amount of work especially we don’t begin doing some things because we think it may take lot of time. In such cases multitasking is useful. Even in little quantity if you start doing those works apart from the routine, you will be able to complete them, instead of doing not starting them at all.
3. Today’s life is very demanding, if we wait to complete one task and then start doing the other. We may not find time to do some tasks at all.
4. Multitasking teaches us to cope with stressful situation. Especially when you have the burden all on yourself and need to handle things alone.
5. Multitasking expands our horizons of knowledge and skill.

Disadvantages of multitasking

1. Studies show that there is a serious effect on productivity by switching from one task to other. The person’s performance ability slows down at a great rate when they have to switch between the tasks.
2. It has also been found in many researches that a lot of time is wasted, in the process of switching from one task to another.
3. Research shows that the actual process of shifting our focus from one task to other especially when lot of concentration levels are required, has a lot of psychological pressure as continuous shifting means you have to change your mindset every time for the other role, on and off.
4. Multitasking keeps one busy all the time but when it comes to results there will hardly be any accomplishments to show as none of the tasks will be completely done.
5. Multitasking leads to inefficiency. Like answering phone calls, attending to messages and checking mails once in a while, working on a project leads to inefficiency.

In essence multitasking is good when doing simple things. Tasks that don’t require lot of concentration or attention. But while doing those works which need your attention and concentration totally, multitasking is definitely not a thing to do.