Multitasking: Busy, But Not Better

Ever notice how multitasking sneaks into our lives disguised as efficiency? You start with one email, then remember a text you forgot to answer, all while a meeting hums in the background — and suddenly the day feels like a blur of half-finished thoughts. By 5 p.m., you’ve been “busy” for hours, yet you’re left wondering: what did I actually get done?

For years, multitasking was sold to us as a super-skill. Job postings proudly listed it as a must-have. We listed it on our résumés, as if the ability to juggle twelve things at once was the surest proof of competence. I used to wear it as a badge of honor, too. But here’s what I’ve learned — and what science confirms: multitasking doesn’t make us better. It makes us scattered.

The Hidden Cost of “Doing It All”

Our brains aren’t wired to do two things at once — they switch. And switching has a price. Psychologists call it the “cognitive switching penalty.” Every time you jump from one task to another, your brain needs time to reset. Add that up across the day, and you’re losing hours without even realizing it.

Research suggests productivity can drop by 40%.

And it’s not just about speed. Errors multiply when attention is divided. Details slip through the cracks. Creativity dries up. Even memory takes a hit. No wonder multitasking leaves us mentally exhausted — it’s like trying to run a marathon with pebbles in your shoes. You’ll get there eventually, but it won’t be pretty.

The Emotional Toll

Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: multitasking doesn’t just hurt output, it hurts us. Constant juggling fuels stress and a lingering sense of “never enough.” That restless state of half-focus, half-presence — it chips away at both work and life.

And when it comes to collaboration, multitasking quietly erodes connection.

You’re in a meeting but also answering Slack messages, so you miss the nuance in someone’s voice. Or you’re talking to a colleague but already drafting your next response in your head.

The result? Shallow exchanges, weaker trust.

Why This Matters To You

Multitasking doesn’t hit everyone in the same way. Depending on your role, it shows up differently — but the losses are strikingly similar.

• Corporate professionals For you, multitasking probably means back-to-back meetings, constant emails, and the unspoken pressure to “be everywhere at once.” It feels like you’re working hard, yet at the end of the day, the most important work often slips through the cracks. The cost? Missed details, mounting stress, and less recognition for the real value you bring.

• Managers and team leaders Your version of multitasking is double duty: managing your own workload while holding the team together. It shows up as endless juggling — one eye on deliverables, the other on people. The result? Delegation suffers, burnout creeps in, and your leadership presence feels stretched thin.

• Entrepreneurs and small business owners For you, multitasking is baked into survival: wearing every hat, answering every question, making every decision. One moment you’re in sales mode, the next you’re in operations, and somehow you’re also doing the bookkeeping. It’s progress, but scattered — momentum is constantly interrupted by the next fire.

• Students and young professionals Your multitasking is a tangle of assignments, part-time jobs, and social commitments. The pressure to keep up is real, but so is the exhaustion. Focus feels fleeting, procrastination sneaks in, and stress builds. Instead of building confidence, the cycle often feeds self-doubt.

• Career pivoters and job seekers For you, multitasking looks like a balancing act: performing in your current role while trying to network, apply, and interview for the next one. It leaves you feeling stretched, with too little energy for either. What’s really at stake here is not just time — it’s clarity and confidence in your transition.

No matter the context, the effect is the same: multitasking drains your energy, fragments your attention, and limits your impact. Moving toward focused productivity isn’t about doing less. It’s about reclaiming presence, energy, and meaning in the work that matters most.

The Case for Slowing Down

The antidote is surprisingly simple — and surprisingly hard: do one thing at a time. Focus on a single task until it’s complete. Block time for deep work. Batch similar tasks. Practice saying no to distractions (yes, even the quick scroll or “just one more email”).

Single-tasking isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t sound impressive on a résumé.

But it works.

It builds clarity, confidence, and flow. It makes space for creativity. And it brings that deep sigh of relief at the end of the day when you know — this mattered, and I gave it my best.

An Invitation

This is exactly why I created my Multitasking Workshop — a 45-minute deep dive into understanding the traps of multitasking and building practical strategies to move beyond it.

Think of it as a reset button: space to reflect, learn tools, and leave with small, doable steps you can start the same day.

If you’ve been wearing multitasking like a badge of honor, maybe it’s time to set it down and discover what focus really feels like.

A Question for You

Where is multitasking showing up in your life right now?

And what might shift if you experimented with slowing down — even just a little — to focus on one thing, with presence and intention?