The Myth of Multitasking
I have read umpteen articles on the dangers of multitasking, and yet, if I had a nickel for every time that I multitasked, I would be a rich woman. I check my phone while working; I clean and listen to podcasts; I go for a walk while answering work emails. I buy into the idea that my worth is based on my productivity, and multitask accordingly.
But science is clear. Multitasking is a myth, and it is not good for our brains.
Why Multitasking Hurts Us
There are a number of research studies on multitasking. Multitasking:
Strains mental health
Causes mistakes
Impacts memory and attention
Lowers productivity and is inefficient
It’s actually task-switching, with a real-time and energy cost every time I change focus
Attention: Automatic vs Controlled
Megan Sumeracki, in an interview on Cult of Pedagogy, explained that there is a difference between unconscious attention and controlled attention.
Unconscious attention is automated.
Controlled attention takes a conscious effort to do something, with focused mental resources.
We can do two things at once if one task is automated. I can walk and listen to music. I can stir a pot of soup and have a conversation. One task ends up on autopilot and doesn’t get processing attention.
However, if two things need attentional control, then I am actually task-switching. Research shows that there is a cost to this, sometimes called switch cost or resumption lag. It takes time to get back to the first task. One frequently quoted study from the University of California, Irvine, found that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds for a person to fully refocus after an interruption.2
Technology: The Hidden Multitasker
Technology raises the stakes to a higher level. Just having a phone around, even others’ phones, will draw one’s attention. “According to a 2017 study that found the mere presence of a smartphone reduces a person’s ability to focus. In the study, undergraduates asked to leave their phones in another room did better on cognitive tests than those who were asked to silence their phones and leave them face down on their desk or in a bag.”3
This affects our children deeply. They have trouble resisting distraction, and research shows that “multitasking makes it hard for the still-developing brain to absorb information and connect thoughts and ideas.”4 Our ADHD and neurodivergent students are particularly vulnerable to technology distractions–the constant stimulation, short bursts of attention, and quick rewards are enticing. Yet when attention is divided, executive functioning weakens, making learning and self-regulation even more difficult.
Supporting Focus at School and Home
How can we support our children in a world that encourages “multitasking”?
In the classroom:
One thing at a time: Present tasks sequentially (THIS, then THIS).
Separate reading and listening: Allow time to read papers and slides before speaking.
Quiet processing time: Build in quiet thinking time, then ask for responses.
Silent reading before sharing: Let students read in silence before asking them to read aloud.
Prime background knowledge: Activate what they already know to reduce cognitive load.
Allow cognitive breaks: Pauses will refresh attention.
Here are some home ideas.
No phones in bedrooms: Provide tech-free rest spaces.
Plan family “unplugged” time: Schedule time together without screens.
Stay engaged: Tune into what your child is watching.
Experiment with homework routines: Consider being away from screens, perhaps with regular breaks away from the study space.
Model single-tasking. Put away your phone and focus on one task. Consider unpacking your thinking for your child, perhaps like this: “Wow. I’m noticing that my phone is distracting me. I’m going to put it in this drawer and just focus on talking to you/cooking/etc.”
Explain the neuroscience: Describe what happens in the brain while multitasking.
One Small Step
We are not looking to be perfect. But is there a small step that I can take today towards being in the present moment, giving that my undivided attention, and savoring what is, right now?
Sources
1https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
3https://childmind.org/article/kids-shouldnt-use-phones-during-homework/
4https://health.clevelandclinic.org/multitasking-why-its-bad-for-you-and-your-kids
https://www.beyondthepage.com/articles/how-to-teach-multitasking-to-children/
https://www.verywellmind.com/multitasking-2795003?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Graphic generated with the support of ChatGPT and OpenAI’s DALL·E (2025)