​Why your brain does not want you to multitask​

Multitasking has become a common habit for many of us. Many times it seems like the only option to manage everything in this fast-paced world. But did you know, the routine that you consider productive is actually hated by your brain and is ultimately sabotaging your productivity? Let’s understand the science behind why the brain hates multitasking.

We multitasking is considered, we commonly refer to it as switching from one task to another. However, neuroscience shows that the brain cannot perform two attention-demanding tasks simultaneously. As per an expert reviewed article from News Medical and Life Sciences, what feels like multitasking is actually the brain rapidly switching its focus from one task to another, and the process becomes ‘task-switching’.

As per multiple studies published in NIH, whenever the brain switches from one task to another, it incurs a ‘switch cost’. This is the extra time and effort required to reorient attention and update working memory. These costs slow performance and increase errors compared with performing each task separately.
Evidence shows that working memory performance declines as the number of task switches increases, indicating that task switching places additional demands on cognitive resources.

​Research shows that heavy multitaskers are less able to sustain focus and are more easily distracted by environmental stimuli compared to those who focus on one task at a time. When attention is divided between tasks, the brain struggles to filter out irrelevant information. The decrease in selective attention can make even simple tasks take longer and feel more mentally exhausting.

Multi study evidence and peer reviews state that multitasking affects the brain’s ability to focus, hold information in working memory for long-term recall.
So, even if multitasking may look like a productive and efficient way to manage tasks, it somehow damages the brain’s long term health, leaving you slower.