Multitasking does not work.
Many people believe is the myth of multitasking. They say things like, “Oh, I do better at work/school when music is playing and I’m having a snack.” Nope. The brain doesn’t multitask, but it does something called “cognitive switching.” It’s like our brains rapidly change TV channels back-and-forth to watch multiple shows at one time. Just like watching more than one television program at a time, cognitive switching means you miss things, and you don’t enjoy the experience as much. The more tasks we’re managing at the same time, the worse our neurological and behavioral performance is on all of those tasks. So, here are some helpful tips:
Schedule time on your calendar to focus on priorities.
Keep your physical environment organized and neat. Clean space, clean mind.
Establish a brief grounding ritual at the times that you need to focus, such as a 30 second mindful breath meditation.
Minimize video and audio distractions from your immediate environment. Studying in a noisy coffee shop is not a good idea.
Have realistic expectations and achievable goals. Break up projects into very, very small chunks, and then celebrate each little victory along the way.
Take breaks. Distracting ourselves on digital devices (e.g., social media and YouTube) doesn’t rejuvenate our brains. Eating a snack with some protein, getting hydrated with some water, getting clean in a shower or bath, and taking a 20 minute rest in a dark, cool, quiet space are things scientific studies prove are actually helpful.