{"id":9405,"date":"2021-01-27T15:17:30","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T15:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.com\/blog\/?p=9405"},"modified":"2023-10-27T08:48:48","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T08:48:48","slug":"can-humans-multitask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.com\/blog\/business-tips\/can-humans-multitask\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Humans Really Multitask?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To answer the question on whether humans can actually multitask, let\u2019s start by asking what multitasking means. Dictionary.com<\/a> defines the word \u2018multitask\u2019 as, \u201c(of one person) to perform two or more tasks simultaneously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes. Simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re probably thinking, \u201cWhat\u2019s strange about that?\u201d Well, first off, simultaneously means \u2018at the same time.\u2019 And not one after another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, by the above definition of multitasking, many of us haven\u2019t really multitasked every time we thought we did!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What about breathing and sleeping at the same time? Or breathing, sleeping and dreaming? Doesn\u2019t that count? If so, then the human body multitasks by\u2026 just existing, right? However, basic body functions happening simultaneously are not classified as multitasking. The reason being, our bodies do these things instinctually, meaning they don\u2019t engage our brains like \u2018thinking\u2019<\/a> does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There aren\u2019t many people in this world who can technically multitask between two or more distinct activities. Even if we could, one of the tasks would most likely be a habit our brain could execute automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if you had to write a letter now, you\u2019d be able to think and pen words down at the same time. That would be cognitive multitasking. That does not require you to actively hold varied information in your working memory<\/a>, all at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what we really do is, we switch between tasks fast. This is the multitasking we all know. And for the rest of the blog, I’ll be referring to the practical multitasking that many of us dream of mastering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can multitasking harm productivity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Humans can constantly switch between crucial activities at work. But you shouldn\u2019t, if you want to be efficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Your mind is like a gearbox. And, every task needs to be executed at a pace with a process that\u2019s unique to itself. Just like how you shift gears according to the speed required on a given road, you get your brain to shift processing information as you multitask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, cars automate all other changes that need to be implemented alongside multiple gear-shifts. But your brain is you<\/em>. So, every time you make a mental gear shift, you have to work on changing your thoughts, goals, procedures, steps, rules, and more. Eventually, you burn a lot of energy and still end up being less productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The science behind the effects of multitasking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lower IQ<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Research by the University of London<\/a> revealed that those who multitasked while performing cognitive tasks showed an IQ decline. In fact, a number of men were observed to have an IQ equaling the average IQ of a third grader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brain damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Researchers from the UK University of Sussex found that high multitaskers suffered cognitive impairment<\/a>. The MRIs of their brains showed lowered brain density in the anterior cingulate cortex. This part of the brain<\/a> is responsible for decision-making, emotion and impulse control, cognitive functions, and the ability to empathize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More mistakes and accidents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brain fitness matters when it comes to handling any task. Dr. Paul Hammerness and Margaret Moore<\/a> state that multitasking causes you to leave out crucial information and make mistakes. Your brain also wears out and loses agility in life sooner than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor memory and learning ability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your brain gathers information when you observe or experience something. But learning is complete only when you\u2019re able to recall<\/a> the information to your mind. And learning can happen anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even as people work, they learn something new each day. But multitasking slows down<\/a> your learning progress by overloading your brain with information. You might feel like it isn\u2019t that big of a deal to remember things. But there will always be some runaway information that your brain fails to capture because of how quickly it must focus on a new task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stress overload<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s highly likely that you\u2019ve felt stressed out with having a lot to do in a short period of time. If multitasking didn\u2019t cause your brain direct stress, it could affect other factors getting you worked up somehow. For instance, you may miss a crucial detail in an email to someone important and not know it. Or you might never get to finish something you\u2019ve started because you kept losing time on doing other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stress is also inevitable when you exert yourself mentally and physically trying to achieve many things at a time. Multitasking is known to give people depression and anxiety<\/a>. These in turn trigger health risks including heart disease, ulcers, headaches and body pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AnswerConnect can help you stay focused<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Business owners often handle phone calls themselves while also balancing other important tasks at hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are businesses that may have a live receptionist or a team that covers the front desk for them. But when things get heavy, the receptionists or secretaries have to juggle visitors, callers and other office priorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then there are businesses that delegate call handling to other employees. The employees pause their work each time someone calls. The results of multitasking becomes worse if your role needs you to be creative, innovative or transformative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Core front desk tasks are part of business-life. But there will be moments when you and your employees face burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AnswerConnect has dedicated agents whose sole focus is engaging your callers, whenever they call. Remove the burden of multitasking and pay valuable attention to other crucial tasks. See how a 24\/7 live answering service can help you, today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You breathe easier and sleep better when you know there\u2019s a professional responding to all your customers, leads, and prospects round the clock. Click the button below to learn more about how a virtual phone answering service can help you. Call us at 800-700-8888<\/a><\/strong> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More Information<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
60.3% of business owners said they would get more work done if they didn't have to answer calls. <\/a><\/span> <\/a><\/span>\n\n\n
Source: AnswerConnect<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Quick takeaways.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  • Dictionary.com defines the word \u2018multitask\u2019 as, \u201c(of one person) to perform two or more tasks simultaneously.\u201d<\/li>
  • By the above definition of multitasking, many of us haven\u2019t really multitasked every time we thought we did!<\/li>
  • When you switch between tasks fast, it could cause damage to your brain overtime.<\/li>
  • Business owners often handle phone calls themselves while also balancing other important tasks at hand.<\/li>
  • AnswerConnect – a live 24\/7 answering service – can eliminate the burden of multitasking and help you pay valuable attention to other crucial tasks.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
    Mutitasking, in essence, is… a little different. It’s not what we’ve always believed it to be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9983,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wl_entities_gutenberg":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[72,71,59],"wl_entity_type":[273],"class_list":["post-9405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-tips","tag-business-call-handling","tag-multitasking","tag-virtual-assistant","wl_entity_type-article"],"yoast_head":"\nCan Humans Really Multitask? - AnswerConnect Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Basic body functions happening simultaneously are not classified as multitasking. If so, then can humans really multitask? 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