MULTITASKING ADDICTION A TURNOFF

In the interest of full disclosure I must confess that I am watching TV as I write this blog...or to be more specific the television is on and distracting me from my writing.  My wife is surfing the internet and sharing conversation with me which is also distracting me from my writing.  What should take me 10-15 minutes is now taking over an hour.  Multitasking allows me to do several things at once but ultimately none of them very well.  I am not giving my wife, the television show, or my writing my complete focus.  Instead of increasing my efficiency and productivity my multitasking is actually decreasing the quality of all my activities.

Cognitive research supports that Multitasking hurts learning and affects memory.  Multitasking while driving can even be deadly.  Brains aren't built to multitask and the myth that students who simultaneously text message, talk on the phone, listen to music, watch TV, surf the internet, all while working on their homework somehow have their brains wired differently is false.  The youth may have more practice using their thumbs but their brains are not any better equipped than those of their elders to handle multitasking.   

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I teach college students and work with professional marketers.  Text messaging on cell phones, emailing on PDA's and iPhones, surfing the internet, while simultaneously attending meetings are common with this crowd. In fact, students are so addicted to text messaging that they cannot put their phones down and stop texting even when asked or while spending time with their friends.  In case you think this is unique to students or marketers, sit at a table at any professional conference or corporate meeting and see how many people turn their PC's, PDA's and Cells off and give 100% attention to the speaker or topic at hand. 

Marketers and educators are continuing to address these multitasking media use trends by creating more multitasking solutions and communications. The need for instant and constant communication is an addiction and the excuse that multitasking somehow makes us more efficient or productive is false.  In the end, giving 100% focus to our friends, family, employers or task at hand is the only solution.  I had to pause the television just now to proofread this but if there are too many errors I will blame it on multitasking since my wife is still making conversation.  I will sign-off now so I can focus on our conversation. 

Are we willing to settle for less by not giving our full attention to others and not expecting their full attention in return?  Will there be some backlash when the quality of our learning, work, conversations, and relationship continues to decline? 

I look 4WARD to your feedback.

Keep Digging For Worms!

Comments

[Dr. William J. Ward aka DR4WARD]

Thank you for the comment Jessica.
There were several students in my last class looking at their cellphones in their laps under their desks and texting even though we spent 5 minutes discussing why we were having a "Topless" class - no laptops or cell phones allowed.
It is a powerful addiction when someone will not stop texting or emailing for class or work even when asked politely.

[Jess1cola]

Well said. Very relevant post for me, I've been realizing my tendency to multi task and not really accomplish anything - or at least not accomplish anything with quality. It's crazy to sit and think about how much multi tasking we do with out even realizing it.

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[Ajlouny]

My theory is that you may be able to get a way with multi-tasking about 90% of the time, but there is a 10% chance that your brain cannot handle it. Those numbers are theoretical, but even a 1% chance is way too much when texting and driving.

[Shanon]

I have not completely solved the problem of feeling brain-damaged during and after doing a significant amount of grading, but I have discovered a partial solution that has been working well for me tonight: I am acquiring data in my lab at the same time that I am grading. This only works if the graded materials don't require undivided attention for lengths of time greater than the time required for the lab activity. Fortunately, I have been able to work it out tonight so that I can bounce between lab things and grading things in such a way that I am getting something scientific done and making progress with grading. And even when I'm grading, I feel happy knowing that things are moving along in the lab at the same time. This is the best kind of multi-tasking.
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Shanon

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[A. Rome]

Here, here! Well said.

I shudder to think of what may come of this national multitasking addiction (epidemic?)...

[Jan Zlotnick, The Zlotnick Group (ad agency, tribeca, nyc)]

A black belt martial arts instructor in our Group (creative director/art dir) says that, counter to popular culture (and counter-culture) myth (e.g. "Kill Bill), multi-tasking doesn't exist. Hence, if you want to stop an attack by multiple assailants, say 4 or 6 or 24, you are trained to focus 100% of your skills on each attacker, one menace at a time. Albeit at extraordinary speed and with an uncanny sense of order of priority. I have tried this recently on a suddenly swarming flock of pigeons descending on my lunch in madison square park in nyc. I had to buy a new sandwich, and get quickly to a dry cleaners. I guess i should have focused 100% on getting the hell out of there.

Jan Zlotnick,
Creative Director
The Zlotnick Group
Re Think | Ring True
www.thezlotnickgroup.com
jan@thezlotnickgroup.com