Multitasking in Our Digital Age

Time to Reassess Our Thinking

Nowadays it often feels like multi-tasking is a must. It’s become such a part of our culture that a lot of people wear it as a badge of honor, “Look at me. I can do all of the things all at once!” But beneath this gleaming surface lies a more complex, less understood narrative about how multitasking truly affects our working memory and, by extension, our overall well-being.

As a parent, the concept of multitasking is not just a choice but often a necessity. Balancing work, family, and personal responsibilities requires a dance that sometimes feels more like a balancing act on a wire above a city Yet, through this whirlwind, I've begun to ponder the toll it takes on us. This reflection is not born from a vacuum but from observing the subtle shifts in my own focus, the fleeting nature of my attention, and the sometimes foggy recall of a day's events.

Research suggests that what we often celebrate as multitasking is, in reality, task-switching. Our brains flip back and forth between tasks, never fully engaging with one before moving to the next. This constant shifting is not just inefficient; it's exhausting. It demands a hefty cognitive load, leading to increased errors and decreased quality of work.

On top of that, I sometimes feel this need to be “productive,” even when I’m supposed to be relaxing with my kids or loved ones. Because of this, Jackie will often remind me to take a seat and stop cleaning the kitchen or putting away things while we’re supposed to be watching a movie together as a family.

More often than I’d like to admit, when one of my kids shares something that seems innocuous to me (like the latest updated to Minecraft), my mind may be wondering to something else, to a preoccupation, to a stressor or an event. It's in these moments that the importance of being present becomes crystal clear. Our working memory is not just a tool for productivity but a vessel for our relationships and the emotional connections that sustain them.

Besides the obvious issues with not being fully present, multi-tasking impacts our memory, as well as our learning. A study from Stanford University found that people who frequently multitask are less able to filter out irrelevant information and have worse memory recall.

Embracing a more mindful approach to how we manage our tasks and where we allocate our attention can lead to not only improved cognitive function but also deeper and more meaningful interactions with those we love. Instead of striving to do everything at once, perhaps the true skill lies in knowing what deserves our focus at any given moment and giving it wholly.

Let us not forget that in the end, the quality of our moments is not measured by how much we can cram into them but by the depth of engagement and the memories we create. Perhaps it's time we reevaluate not just how multitasking affects our working memory, but how it shapes our lives and the lives of those around us.

Thanks for reading.

I want to hear from you. How do you deal with this “need” to multi-task?

Also, did you already check out the Behind the Stack series? The first interview is already up!

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