Is Multitasking a Myth? Here’s What Science Says
We’ve all bragged about our ability to multitask. Maybe you’ve answered emails while on a Zoom call, cooked dinner while scrolling TikTok, or juggled homework with a podcast in your ears. In today’s fast-paced world, multitasking feels not only normal but necessary. After all, who doesn’t want to get more done in less time?
But here’s the big question: Is multitasking even real? Or is it just a myth we tell ourselves to feel more productive? Science suggests the latter. Research consistently shows that our brains aren’t designed to handle multiple tasks at once—at least not the way we think. Instead of being productivity superheroes, most of us are just rapid task-switchers, paying a heavy mental price.
Let’s dive into what science says about multitasking, why it feels like we’re doing it, and what strategies actually work better.
What People Think Multitasking Is
When most of us say “multitasking,” we imagine performing two or more tasks simultaneously with equal focus. For instance:
Writing a report while listening to a podcast.
Responding to texts while in a meeting.
Driving while talking on the phone.
It feels like we’re splitting attention between tasks, doubling efficiency. But the truth is, the human brain doesn’t divide attention equally—it switches rapidly between tasks, creating the illusion of multitasking.
What Multitasking Really Is: Task Switching
Neuroscience research shows that the brain struggles to process more than one conscious task at a time. Instead of juggling, it switches focus. This is called task switching.
Every time you switch tasks:
Your brain has to pause one mental set.
Then, it loads the next set.
Finally, it reorients itself.
That switch takes fractions of a second, but multiplied across hundreds of switches, it adds up.
Example: If you’re reading an article but pause every few sentences to check your phone, your brain wastes energy reloading the context of the article. By the end, you feel drained and may barely remember what you read.
The Science of Cognitive Bottlenecks
Cognitive scientists often describe the brain as having a bottleneck for attention. Just like a road that narrows from four lanes to one, your mental “traffic” slows when two tasks compete for the same cognitive resources.
A famous study from Stanford University found that heavy multitaskers—people who think they’re great at juggling—actually performed worse in memory tests and were more easily distracted than light multitaskers. In other words, the more you multitask, the worse your brain gets at filtering irrelevant information.
Why Multitasking Feels Good (Even When It’s Not)
If multitasking is so bad, why do we keep doing it? Because it feels rewarding.
Dopamine hits: Checking emails or social notifications while working gives a little rush, tricking your brain into feeling productive.
Illusion of efficiency: Crossing multiple small tasks in quick succession feels like progress, even if it slows down big tasks.
Cultural pressure: In workplaces and schools, multitasking is often praised as a valuable skill. We equate busyness with effectiveness.
This creates what psychologists call the “multitasking trap”: we feel efficient in the moment, even as long-term productivity suffers.
The Cost of Multitasking
Science paints a clear picture: multitasking comes with hidden costs.
1. Reduced Productivity
Studies show that productivity can drop by as much as 40% when switching between tasks. That means finishing two tasks in parallel often takes longer than doing them one after the other.
2. More Mistakes
When attention is divided, errors increase. This is particularly dangerous in tasks like driving, where texting or calling multiplies accident risks.
3. Memory Impairment
Task switching disrupts the brain’s ability to encode memories. If you’ve ever read a page of a book while distracted, then realized you retained nothing, that’s multitasking’s fault.
4. Stress and Fatigue
Constantly switching gears wears out the brain’s executive functions, leaving you mentally exhausted and more stressed at the end of the day.
Exceptions: When Multitasking Works
Not all multitasking is bad. Some activities don’t compete for the same cognitive resources. For example:
Automatic + conscious task: Walking (automatic) while brainstorming (conscious) often works well.
Complementary tasks: Folding laundry while listening to an audiobook is usually fine, since they use different mental systems.
Creative overlap: Some people find background music boosts focus, though this depends on personality and task complexity.
The key is whether tasks require overlapping mental resources. If they do, performance suffers. If they don’t, multitasking might be harmless—or even helpful.
Multitasking in the Digital Age
Smartphones, social media, and constant notifications have made multitasking the default mode of living. We flip between apps, tabs, and devices hundreds of times a day.
But research suggests this “digital multitasking” rewires the brain, making it harder to focus deeply. In one University of London study, frequent multitaskers showed IQ score drops equivalent to pulling an all-nighter. Chronic digital juggling may also harm long-term attention spans.
In other words, modern technology amplifies multitasking’s downsides, making focus more valuable than ever.
The Myth of the “Super Multitasker”
Some people insist they’re natural multitaskers. Scientists have tested this claim—and found that “supertaskers” are vanishingly rare.
In fact, studies estimate that only about 2.5% of the population can successfully multitask without performance loss. For the rest of us, the brain bottleneck wins. So if you think you’re one of them, odds are you’re not.
How to Break Free from the Multitasking Trap
If multitasking is mostly a myth, what should we do instead? Science points to monotasking—focusing on one thing at a time—as the most effective strategy. Here are some evidence-based tips:
1. Time Blocking
Dedicate blocks of time to one task, with breaks in between. For example, use the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of focus, 5 minutes rest).
2. Limit Digital Distractions
Turn off notifications, close extra tabs, and put your phone out of reach when working.
3. Batch Similar Tasks
Group similar tasks (like checking emails or making calls) instead of sprinkling them throughout the day.
4. Practice Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness exercises strengthen attention control, making it easier to resist the multitasking urge.
5. Embrace Boredom
Allow your brain downtime. Constantly filling gaps with multitasking (scrolling while waiting in line) trains the brain to expect distraction.
The Future of Multitasking
As technology advances, multitasking may take new forms. Artificial intelligence and automation could offload routine work, making multitasking more feasible. For instance, smart assistants can handle background tasks while humans focus on creative work.
But until then, the science is clear: human brains haven’t evolved for true multitasking. The myth persists because it flatters our desire to feel efficient.
Conclusion
So, is multitasking a myth? The answer is yes—at least in the way most of us imagine it. Our brains don’t truly do two things at once; they just switch between tasks quickly, with costs to productivity, accuracy, and memory. While some light multitasking (like walking and talking) can work, complex multitasking is a trap that slows us down.
The takeaway? If you want to get more done, do less at once. Focus on one task deeply, finish it, and move on. Science says monotasking, not multitasking, is the real superpower.