Multitasking is Stopping You From Reaching Your Full Potential
Staying focused isn’t easy, and multitasking makes it even harder.
Feeling that you need to do EVERYTHING and be EVERYWHERE means that you are always “on” – never taking a break or delegating a task to someone else.
More multitasking → more allostatic load → more sensitive to stress.
Add in the drop in serotonin levels that will happen, which will directly impact your mood, and the fact that always being “on” can significantly lower your IQ by 10 points (similar to the impact of smoking marijuana!) and it’s clear this is not a good trajectory!
But then why do we do it? Well, the brain loves novelty. By multitasking you are stimulating that innate need, but at the detriment to productivity, wellbeing, and emotional stability.
The best way to avoid succumbing to distractions and multitasking is to make your best effort to eliminate the option to do so. Combine this with a creative way to engage your brain’s novelty-seeking and you will have a winning combo.
For example, if you need to be in on a meeting try taking it at the park. Work in a new cafe for the afternoon with your laptop if that is an option. Sit on an exercise ball rather than an office chair while writing at your desk.
There are many more ways that this can be done – share your favorite in the comments! I may just start using it myself.
ProductivityHacks #Mindfulness #Neruoscience
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