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1. 

   fennec said, 2 months ago

   It wasn’t just one program. A number of studies recently have shown this to be true. It’s in the archival scientific literature.

2. 

   dtroutma said, 2 months ago

   I saw this guy on the I-5 one day. I drove past, and he was just a dust cloud off the edge of the freeway in the rear-view mirror.

3. 

   believecommonsense said, 2 months ago

   maybe this is part of the reason why the Wall St. “Masters of the Universe” gave us our global financial meltdown

4. 

   cdward said, 2 months ago

   In general, multi-tasking is less efficient, and for anyone who’s interested, it’s not especially good for the soul.

5. 

   Michigander said, 2 months ago

   Those who are good at doing many things at once are not as good at being great at one thing. They would get bored. They have to be busy every second.

6. 

   fennec said, 2 months ago

   I wouldn’t bet the family jewels on that one, Michigan. With a really engrossing problem of complexity, you don’t get bored. The demands to divide your attention at that point are just a harassment and much resented. Until I had chemotherapy I was pretty good at a particular kind of multi-tasking analysis in my field. At that time I really resented anyone asking me to divert attention to unrelated projects. It may all be a matter of what multi-tasking you are doing.

7. 

   parkersinthehouse said, 2 months ago

   these several premises are so absurd.

   disorganization (like the toon) is so not multitasking.

   some people think more clearly while multitasking - they are global (as opposed to linear) thinkers. it’s often that one has a little impatience for the other. and, when a linear tries to multi-task they become nothing more than a disorganized toon.

   i’m a global thinker. my ex-husband was linear.

   any questions?

8. 

   HOWGOZIT said, 2 months ago

   Ex wasn’t only linear; pretty lucky too.

9. 

   pbarnrob said, 2 months ago

   Global vs. Linear; was that part of the breakup (or is that too personal? If so, sorry…)

10. 

    Sandra said, 2 months ago

    I think multitaskers may not be doing the best work possible. Their heads are too busy and may miss out on the big picture needing their attention. But I will listen to arguments from the other side. I am not locked into one viewpoint when further info is available.

11. 

    churchillwasright said, 2 months ago

    “I do one thing. I do it very well. And then I move on.”

    Charles Winchester, MASH 4077

12. 

    parkersinthehouse said, 2 months ago

    wow pbarnrob - that’s a pretty gentle question

    “global thinking” has more than one definition. the better prase is non-linear thinking. i don’t want to mislead. there are a lot of studies on linear/non-linear thinking - google or askjeeves.

    no, pb - abuse was the reason

    of course it could be that my multi-tasking drove him a little nuts
    ºO
    U

    nice of you to ask

    aprilmay and michigander

    it could be that i’m misunderstanding multi-tasking. trying to execute several tasks at once does seem impossible unless you “layer” them.

    Making lists, identifying and prioritizing, then floating between as priority requires works best for me. thinking about the last task while executing the next is productive. it’s more efficient.

    a good consequence of my methodology is that, each task gets done thoroughly and on time. another is having several “irons in the fire” really turns me on - energizes me. downside (mostly for everybody else) there are several projects in mid-boogy for a while.

    i’m the only one?

13. 

    believecommonsense said, 2 months ago

    i’m sure some multi-task quite well …. for me, multi-tasking to extremes may mean doing no task as well as possible

    it takes some time to orient one’s self to the task being managed, to refresh from where it was left off …. in the extreme, that can be counterproductive

    i’m more concerned about the decline of attention span amongst younger people …. it’s akin to always skimming the surface rather than understanding in depth; it’s akin to thinking short-term rather than having the more complete and thorough long-term view

    IMHO.

14. 

    parkersinthehouse said, 2 months ago

    there’s also the psychological perk that all tasks have a level of doneness rather than one’s complete, the rest aren’t even started. know whatta mean? i’m the only one?

15. 

    DrCanuck said, 2 months ago

    Research is conclusive (Poldrack, 2006), multi-tasking leaves each task poorly done. Especially learning.

16. 

    parkersinthehouse said, 2 months ago

    artists do think differently, and tasks are different as well. then there are domestic chores which so many men know absolutely nothing about.

    i rarely leave a task less than perfectly accomplished even if it takes a while which doesn’t matter since i have all the time i need.

    i always question “conclusive research” wondering who did the study, on whom, what sample, how many, with what questions and what variables, what demographics – statistics only cover a cross section and i rarely take them seriously, especially ones with such nebulous premises.