Why Multitasking Is Bad For Our Brains

The post says multitasking feels rewarding because switching between tasks can trigger dopamine, but it also increases stress and reduces mental capacity. It argues that even the chance to multitask can hurt problem-solving and task management.

Reading notes

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• Technology makes it easy to keep doing several things at once, so people try to use every spare second.
• The brain can mistake frequent task-switching for efficiency because it gets small reward signals from new emails, tweets, and texts.
• Multitasking can trigger cortisol and leave people stressed and mentally exhausted.
• Research cited in the post says the mere opportunity to multitask can lower problem-solving ability and task management by about 10 IQ points.
• The post says multitaskers are worse at switching tasks and ignoring irrelevant information, with only a few isolated exceptions.
• Email is presented as the main distraction because people expect instant replies, anyone can send messages, and each message demands an immediate decision.
• The post recommends evening planning, using the Pomodoro technique, and setting a specific daily time for email and other correspondence.
• It says music is not the same as multitasking because it uses a separate part of the brain and does not interfere with work.