According to neuroscientist Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD, multitasking is a myth.
We can’t actually do more than one thing at once, at least not very well.
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When its finally time to just relax and watch TV, Im catching up on texts and social media.
I go so far as to use my language-learning app while Im doing my business in the bathroom!
In my world, no moment is ever wasted by doing just one measly little thing at a time.
neurologist and co-director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University
So, Im a total rockstar whos crushing life, right?
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neurologist and co-director of the Alzheimers Prevention Program at Loma Linda University
Wrong.
There is no such thing as multitasking; thereissuch a thing as doing multiple things badly,hes says.
Instead, we end up chronically distracted.
Basically, he explains, multitasking prevents you from closing loops on tasks.
Youre doing multiple things, without clear success endpoints that give you satisfaction, he says.
Thisactually creates chronic tension because its expecting something thats not achieved.
These tensions build up psychologically and over time, it becomes anxietyand depression follows from that.
This is detrimental not just to your sanity but to your physical health, too.
Something as simple as multitasking is not just a chronic habit of taking on multiple things.
Its so much more than that.
Its a dysfunctional mechanism of chronic stress, destroying the body.
This feel-good chemical positively reinforces the behavior, making you want to do it again and again.
The overall result will then be better mental and physical health.
Plus, youll actually get moretrulydone.
After all, how much of that podcast are you actually retaining if youre cooking while listening?
In my experience, the answer is very little.
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