Why Multitasking Isn’t Working, and Never Really Did
We love the idea of doing it all. It makes us feel productive, capable, even essential. But multitasking, as appealing as it sounds, is based on a flawed assumption: that we can give meaningful attention to multiple things at once.
Our brains aren’t designed for parallel processing at any level of quality in the way we think. What we’re really doing is task-switching, bouncing from one thing to another, draining mental energy with each switch, and leaving a trail of half-finished thoughts behind us. And if its big stuff, we begin the Burning On cycle.
Interestingly some researchers at Stanford found that heavy multi-taskers are more easily distracted, less mentally organised, and worse at switching between tasks than those who don’t multitask much at all.
The American Psychological Association warns that even short mental interruptions can double our error rate.
So why do we keep doing it?
Because we live in a culture that rewards speed, volume, and responsiveness. We’re praised for being "on it", always reachable, constantly spinning plates. In that environment, single tasking looks slow. It can appear passive and disinterested. But it’s not.
Single-Tasking Is a Radical Act
Single-tasking, or even just tasking, is focusing on one thing with your full attention, it should be a practice of strength. It takes discipline. It goes against the grain of how most of us now operate. And when we’re in a BurningOn state (just keeping going, even when it’s no longer good for us), multi-tasking becomes our default survival mode.
But it’s not sustainable.
Whether it’s the leaders I coach through organisational change or teenagers trying to get out the door with a broken toe, the lesson is the same: when we overload, we underperform.
Focus isn't just about productivity. It’s about relief. It's about creating space to breathe, think, and do the thing in front of you well. And that builds momentum.
When Did We Pluralise 'Priority'?
I hear so many clients talk about priorities, and some great thinkers have written about this – but as soon as we pluralise it then it ceases to fulfil its true meaning! The word priority entered the English language in the 1400s, and for the following 500 years, it was singular. There could only be one thing that came first. Roll on the 20th century when industrialisation, productivity culture, and hustle became the norm, speed it up in the 21st century with digital, social media and phones that ping all day competing for our attention, and we start pluralising the ‘priorities’. As if we could somehow have multiple “first things.” But we can’t.
Trying to honour too many top priorities at once is like trying to juggle glass balls while sprinting. Something will definitely get dropped. Usually the thing that needed your full attention.
A powerful shift happens when we stop and ask: What’s the one thing that matters most, right now?
Prioritisation isn’t about cramming more in. It’s about choosing what matters most first and giving it the respect of your full attention. I work in a local foodbank, and a month or so ago, in a very busy session with people queuing and many already sat at the tables being given food crates, one lady I was talking to became very upset. She started to share how she was in pain, and had been given antibiotics and didn’t understand them. As a Team Leader it was my job to keep the session running and look after everyone. I looked around the room at the chaos and thought - they can all wait, this lady needs my full attention, right now there is nothing more important. That was quite liberating for me as a seasoned juggler and multi-tasker. We took our time, the language barrier slowed us down, but Google translate is sent from God! My observations; everyone did wait, everyone got fed, yes a little later than planned, but it was fine, and she really appreciated the focused attention and energy and left smiling.
How to Step Away from the Juggle: 5 Practical Shifts
Here are five shifts that have helped my clients (and myself) move from multitasking chaos to calmer clarity:
1. Start with a Stop.
Before you launch into your to-do list, pause. One deep breath. Ask: What matters most right now? It’s simple, grounding, and a pattern interrupt.
2. Choose One Thing. Just One.
Write it down. Say it aloud. Make it visible. Whether it’s replying to that email, making a decision, or just eating lunch, commit to just that for the next block of time.
3. Declutter Your Inputs.
Turn off non-essential notifications. Mute group chats. Close browser tabs. If it’s not helping the task you’re doing right now, it’s probably a distraction disguised as ‘readiness’.
4. Shift the Language.
Focus on: “I’m intentionally doing one thing.” When people interrupt, try: “Let me finish this first.” It’s respectful and boundary-setting.
5. Reflect on Your Energy, Not Just Your Time.
Ask at the end of the day: Where did my energy go today? What helped me feel focused or frazzled? You’ll start to see patterns, and reclaim power from the noise.
Final thoughts
In a world that’s overstimulated, focus is freedom
Multi-tasking promises more but delivers less. It spreads us thin. It turns quality into below average quantity. And in moments of pressure like racing to get out of the house to school, it’s easy to forget that human beings don’t thrive on constant input. We thrive in presence.
So here is the permission granted, you don’t have to do it all right now. You don’t need to respond instantly. You’re allowed to close some tabs.
Because sometimes, the strongest thing you can do isn’t multitasking, it’s just tasking.
Ophir, Nass & Wagner (2009), Stanford University – "Cognitive control in media multitaskers", PNAS. ↩
American Psychological Association – “Multitasking: Switching Costs” (https://www.apa.org/research/action/multitask) ↩