This is Your Brain on Multitasking

August 31, 2009

Kara Powell
Kara Powell

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So I’ve been a multitasker for as long as I can remember.  Then this week I saw a recent research release by Stanford University News that challenges the effectiveness of multitasking.

I read the article while I was on hold with the DMV and my kids were playing Lincoln Logs in the room with me.   Seriously.

I’m starting to wonder what effect multitasking is having on us.  According to this study, we do tasks more poorly when we’re multitasking.

What are we modeling to teenagers when we talk on the cell phone and check e.mail simultaneously, all while listening to our iPod?

And what is happening to students who are engaged in driving, talking, and texting?  What does that do to their long-term cognitive function?

What do our own kids learn by our modeling of rushing through life, juggling as much as we can?  This latest research from Stanford shows us that these are questions we need to think seriously about and not just blow off because we’re too busy multitasking.

Gotta go.  The DMV agent finally picked up the line.

©2009 Fuller Youth Institute

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  • Andy Lovsted

    I saw similar research a few years ago and consistently the evidence is overwhelmingly bad for us multi-taskers. Of course, I probably wouldn’t have read this article if I wasn’t multitasking. I have open on my desktop e-mail, my calendar, 8 websites, a spreadsheet, a Word document and a PowerPoint presentation. I’m working on all of them… inefficiently, I’m certain. Truly, I don’t want to be distracted by the irrelevant, and how does one survive in this globally competitive economy without being as efficient as possible.

    Lord, help me to change my ways. Help me to focus and learn discipline.

    Great post Dr. Powell! I needed the reminder.

  • Robin Ritchie Barton

    Hmm, I’m not totally convinced. It would be interesting to see how the level of multitasking relates to IQ, gender and ADHD. The statement “The high multitaskers are always drawing from all the information in front of them” sounds just like my ADHD son. Even as an infant, friends commented on how alert he was and he was difficult to soothe because he couldn’t block out any distractions and would get overstimulated.

    Perhaps we’re putting the cart before the horse and we’re multitasking because a portion of our brain is just plain bored. For instace, I am extremely focused while writing a computer program (except for subconsciously humming a tune repeatedly and driving my family crazy), yet other times I’m doing 10 things at once. I never purport to do them well, but I would go stir crazy if I had to do one at a time!

    However, I totally agree that our hectic schedules are not a lesson in healthy living for our kids.

  • http://ministryallies.com Nick Arnold

    Over the past weekend, we took our kids on a trip where the them verse was Matt 6:21, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I talked about how what we value influences how we behave.

    If we value being rich, being important, being valued by others, then busyness seems like one logical behavior.

    But if we value being a disciple of God, throwing off “celebrityism,” and looking to please God and not people, then our behaviors will reflect a more laid-back lifestyle.

    Maybe it’s our values that need changing, not just our behaviors.

  • Kara Powell

    Good points, all of you. So I like Nick’s question: what are the values that need to change? Maybe it’s the value/theology of being centered–overall as well as in Jesus–and experiencing all God has for us at the pace God designed.

    I continue to think about this research. I must say I still am multi-tasking, but maybe a bit less.

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