A study from Stanford University indicates that high media multitaskers are less effective at filtering out irrelevant information and perform worse on memory tasks compared to low media multitaskers. The good news is that these cognitive deficits are not permanent; mindfulness training can help improve focus and mitigate the negative effects of multitasking. Ultimately, developing mindfulness can enhance emotional intelligence and serve as a better predictor of financial success than IQ or early economic background.

2. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full

3. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
“Must be a good multi-tasker.” We’ve all seen
that line in a job listing. So does that mean we
should start honing our task juggling skills?

4. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
“Must be a good multi-tasker.” We’ve all seen
that line in a job listing. So does that mean we
should start honing our task juggling skills?
Increasingly, the evidence is saying “no”!

5. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
“Must be a good multi-tasker.” We’ve all seen
that line in a job listing. So does that mean we
should start honing our task juggling skills?
Increasingly, the evidence is saying “no”!
Researchers at Stanford University broke
subjects up into two groups based upon
their self-identified media consumption
habits — Low Media Multitaskers and
High Media Multitaskers — and put them
through a series of tests.*
* http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full

6. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full

7. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
“We need you to check in
with our vendors and find
out what’s holding up
production. Talk to Carrie,
the regional manager,
before she leaves at 1:15.”

8. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
It’s
being
shipped
by boat. No.
Air
mail
Ooh. Lunch!
I’m not
sure blue
is my
color.
Don’t
forget.
Is it Gary,
or Carrie?
Did you
see that
video on
YouTube?
I left the
stove on. I’m
sure of it.
“We need you to check in
with our vendors and find
out what’s holding up
production. Talk to Carrie,
the regional manager,
before she leaves at 1:15.”

9. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
It’s
being
shipped
by boat. No.
Air
mail
Ooh. Lunch!
I’m not
sure blue
is my
color.
Don’t
forget.
Is it Gary,
or Carrie?
Did you
see that
video on
YouTube?
I left the
stove on. I’m
sure of it.
Talk to
the vendors.
Got it. Do I need
last quarter’s
numbers,
too?
“We need you to check in
with our vendors and find
out what’s holding up
production. Talk to Carrie,
the regional manager,
before she leaves at 1:15.”

10. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
It’s
being
shipped
by boat. No.
Air
mail
Ooh. Lunch!
I’m not
sure blue
is my
color.
Don’t
forget.
Is it Gary,
or Carrie?
Did you
see that
video on
YouTube?
I left the
stove on. I’m
sure of it.
Talk to
the vendors.
Got it. Do I need
last quarter’s
numbers,
too?
What
was the
last quote
they gave
us?
“We need you to check in
with our vendors and find
out what’s holding up
production. Talk to Carrie,
the regional manager,
before she leaves at 1:15.”

11. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
It’s
being
shipped
by boat. No.
Air
mail
Ooh. Lunch!
I’m not
sure blue
is my
color.
Don’t
forget.
Is it Gary,
or Carrie?
Did you
see that
video on
YouTube?
I left the
stove on. I’m
sure of it.
Talk to
the vendors.
Got it. Do I need
last quarter’s
numbers,
too?
What
was the
last quote
they gave
us?
“We need you to check in
with our vendors and find
out what’s holding up
production. Talk to Carrie,
the regional manager,
before she leaves at 1:15.”
They found that compared to
Low Media Multitaskers,

12. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
It’s
being
shipped
by boat. No.
Air
mail
Ooh. Lunch!
I’m not
sure blue
is my
color.
Don’t
forget.
Is it Gary,
or Carrie?
Did you
see that
video on
YouTube?
I left the
stove on. I’m
sure of it.
Talk to
the vendors.
Got it. Do I need
last quarter’s
numbers,
too?
What
was the
last quote
they gave
us?
“We need you to check in
with our vendors and find
out what’s holding up
production. Talk to Carrie,
the regional manager,
before she leaves at 1:15.”
They found that compared to
Low Media Multitaskers,
High Media Multitaskers were
less capable of identifying and
filtering out irrelevant data.

13. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full

14. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
Wait,
what time does
the regional
manager leave
today? 1:00?

15. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
You’re
correct.
Don’t worry
about it.
1:15.
Mountain
time.
Unimportant detail.
Wait,
what time does
the regional
manager leave
today? 1:00?

16. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
You’re
correct.
Don’t worry
about it.
1:15.
Mountain
time.
Unimportant detail.
They performed poorly at memory
tests: slower and more error prone
than Low Media Multitaskers.
Wait,
what time does
the regional
manager leave
today? 1:00?

17. * http://www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15583.full
You’re
correct.
Don’t worry
about it.
1:15.
Mountain
time.
Unimportant detail.
They performed poorly at memory
tests: slower and more error prone
than Low Media Multitaskers.
Ultimately, High Media Multitaskers were
slower to switch between tasks than their
Low Media Multitasker colleagues.
Wait,
what time does
the regional
manager leave
today? 1:00?

18. It’s
probably
your
fault.
Legal is
on the
3rd floor,
right?
Got it!
Wait,
legal,
or
HR?
“Change of plans. This
has gone sideways.
We need you to talk
with legal instead.”

19. It’s
probably
your
fault.
Legal is
on the
3rd floor,
right?
Got it!
Wait,
legal,
or
HR?
Talk with
legal? I thought
I was supposed
to meet with our
vendors?
“Change of plans. This
has gone sideways.
We need you to talk
with legal instead.”

20. It’s
probably
your
fault.
Legal is
on the
3rd floor,
right?
Got it!
Wait,
legal,
or
HR?
Talk with
legal? I thought
I was supposed
to meet with our
vendors?
Which defeats the whole purpose of
multitasking, doesn’t it?
“Change of plans. This
has gone sideways.
We need you to talk
with legal instead.”

21. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542

22. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542

23. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
By focusing on your breathing — using it
as your “anchor” to the present moment,
you can train your brain to have better
focus.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542

24. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
By focusing on your breathing — using it
as your “anchor” to the present moment,
you can train your brain to have better
focus.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542
you can
do this
right at
your
desk!

25. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
By focusing on your breathing — using it
as your “anchor” to the present moment,
you can train your brain to have better
focus.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542
relaxed
but upright
posture
you can
do this
right at
your
desk!

26. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
By focusing on your breathing — using it
as your “anchor” to the present moment,
you can train your brain to have better
focus.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542
relaxed
but upright
posture
you can
do this
right at
your
desk!
eyes
closed

27. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
By focusing on your breathing — using it
as your “anchor” to the present moment,
you can train your brain to have better
focus.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542
relaxed
but upright
posture
you can
do this
right at
your
desk!
eyes
closed concentrate
on the
sensations
of breathing

28. Fortunately, these deficiencies aren’t
permanent. Studies* have shown that
short periods of mindfulness training can
reverse the effects of multitasking.
By focusing on your breathing — using it
as your “anchor” to the present moment,
you can train your brain to have better
focus.
When you notice your attention slipping,
consciously bring it back to your breathing. Over
time, the process becomes almost automatic.
* http://www.nature.com/articles/srep24542
relaxed
but upright
posture
you can
do this
right at
your
desk!
eyes
closed concentrate
on the
sensations
of breathing

29. Mindfulness, or applied self-awareness,
is one of the fundamental principles of
emotional intelligence.

30. Mindfulness, or applied self-awareness,
is one of the fundamental principles of
emotional intelligence.

31. Mindfulness, or applied self-awareness,
is one of the fundamental principles of
emotional intelligence.
In fact, cognitive control has been
shown as a better predictor* of financial
success in one’s adult life than either IQ
or childhood economic advantage.
* http://www.pnas.org/content/108/7/2693.full

32. Mindfulness, or applied self-awareness,
is one of the fundamental principles of
emotional intelligence.
In fact, cognitive control has been
shown as a better predictor* of financial
success in one’s adult life than either IQ
or childhood economic advantage.
And best of all, it’s never too
late to improve one’s focus!
* http://www.pnas.org/content/108/7/2693.full

33. MORE THAN
SOUND
morethansound.net
slideshare adapted by: bryant paul johnson
For more information on how to include mindfulness and
focus in your daily routine, visit us at morethansound.net.