The document discusses the myth of multitasking and provides evidence that humans are not capable of truly multitasking. It notes that when people switch between tasks frequently, it takes longer to complete the tasks and more mistakes are made. Additionally, research shows that multitasking can cause a 40% drop in productivity. While some people think they can multitask, studies show that only 2% of people are actually able to do so without harm, and chronic multitaskers perform worse on cognitive tasks overall.

1. The Myth of
Multitasking
Janet Williams

3. I was surprised at this information because
I considered myself a good multitasker.
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4. ”A mythical activity in which
people believe they can
perform two or more
tasks simultaneously.”
Dr. Edward Hallowell
ADHD expert and author

5. We aren’t multitasking, but switching back and
forth between tasks. It takes longer and you
make more mistakes.

6. We are not biologically capable of
simultaneous inputs without sacrificing
performance and accuracy.
2%
of people can multitask
98%
it causes more
harm than good

7. Studies show people who chronically
multitask show enormous amounts of
deficits and are terrible at all cognitive tasks
including multitasking.

8. It takes over 20 minutes to
recover from switching tasks.
You may feel like you are
accomplishing more, but
focusing on more than one
thing can cause a 40%
drop in productivity.

9. When I began to pay attention to my
work habits, I could see it was true and
started to change how I worked.

10. Wanted to create a website about it
but instructor didn’t think people
would understand.

11. Companies still advertise for
multitasking skills.

12. On average employees are distracted once
every 10
minutes and can lose up to
2 hours a day.

13. It is estimated that 25% of young people
use 4 or more media devices at once.

14. While working, being distracted by incoming
calls or emails lowers a person's IQ by
10 points.
Students who do
homework while IMing
or texting are more
likely to report academic
Impairment.

15. The idea that people
being on many
devices actually
causes a person to
lose their ability to
focus has been
supported by more
and more research.

16. Scientists are discovering that even when
you stop multitasking, fractured thinking and
lack of focus continue to persist.

17. More People know about
“The Myth of Multitasking”.

19. “People won’t stop multitasking you just
have to make good decisions about when
to do it. Calculate the odds of making and
error and the impact of that error.”
Joshua Rubinstein
researcher at University of Michigan

20. Thank You