“Tabless Thursdays” and the cost of Multitasking

Written by Martha Zimmerman

Take a look at these two videos to learn more about the effects of attempting to multitask and a way to try and end multitasking and become more productive.

The first from McGill University Psychology Professor Daniel Levitin. He describes the neurobiological costs of attempting to multitask, and how this leads to mental depletion; “You end up fractioning your attention into little bits and pieces, not really engaging fully in any one thing.”  Levitin also discusses ways in which we can restore our mental resources. This can be as simple as taking a break from your work and coming back to it with some sense of rejuvenation.

Big Think: Multitasking is a Myth and to Attempt It Comes at a Neurobiological Cost

The second is from The Atlantic’s health editor. The second video describes one way to aid in staying on task, and is something we can practice weekly, if not more: “Tabless Thursday.” James Hamblin, MD suggests using only one tab when using any browser to boost productivity. Using only one tab can help increase concentration on the task at hand, instead of switching between tasks, or tabs in this case.

Tabless Thursdays