There is such a thing as the multitasking dilemma. It lies in the fact that a person’s productivity decreases when tasks become complex or energy-intensive (for example, talking on the phone or driving). In other words, it begins to fail at one or both of these.
Additionally, people’s ability to multitask changes with age.
The problem with multitasking is that two tasks performed simultaneously often compete for common neural pathways in the brain; just like two traffic crossings on the road. For example, the brain’s planning centers in the frontal cortex (and connections to the parietocerebellar system) are essential for humans to perform both motor and cognitive (mental) tasks. Therefore, talking on the phone while driving is risky because it takes longer to intervene in a critical situation. The more difficult it is for you to speak, the higher the risk of an accident. However, the better you perform a primary motor task, the better you can perform another task at the same time.
Adults are also better at multitasking than children. When children multitask, their walking speed and fluency decrease, especially when simultaneously performing a memory task (such as remembering a sequence of numbers), a verbal fluency task (such as naming animals), or a fine motor task (such as connecting). buttons).
Older people are more likely to make mistakes when multitasking. They generally walk much slower and their movements are less smooth than young people. But they can still get better at multitasking by riding a stationary bike/walking on a treadmill/writing poetry/making a grocery list/playing word games.
In general, we must remember that sometimes multitasking can even be harmful. It can deplete our reserves and increase cortisol levels, causing stress. Especially if we are short on time. If all this continues for a long time, fatigue or a feeling of emptiness will appear. Sometimes it’s better to focus on one thing at a time.
News materials cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
