There are many studies that tell us that multitasking is bad for us. Not only can it over-tax the brain, but multitasking can lower our proficiency at a task (whether we realize / admit it or not).  However, in a world on the move... and a society which aims for instant gratification, it seems that everyone multitasks.  I think I myself am addicted to it.  I just can't STAND wasting time! I want to be accomplishing as much as possible.

What are some ways that you multitask and why do you do it? Do you believe the studies that say it is bad for us?

The mother of a daughter I tutor:  She loves to surf facebook and text while she's in traffic jams.  This is an example of TERRIBLE multitasking.

Me?  I could go on and on about my practices.
For example, I have a little foot peddlar that sits on the floor.  When I'm sitting at the computer, crocheting, or working on a desk, I use it in order to cover some of my daily exercise.  This is perhaps a good example?

I listen to sermons while I jog, walk, or bike, so that I can work on my faith and get exercise done at the same time.  This is probably bad simply because I get distracted by the road I'm on, the road ahead of me, and the traffic around me.  I might not glean as much information from it.

*answers while eating chips, watching tv, and doing homework*
What? I never knew that multitasking was bad for us. I hate wasting ime too, except for procrastinating. I procrastinate a lot, so I multitask to get everything done. I never really thought of it as a bad thing, but I guess it is. At least I do get everything done.

Multi-tasking is a tricky skill to do. Many of us do it but it eventually leads to bad things like not getting school work done for example. The brain isn't meant to focus on many things all at once because it can only handle so much to the point of confusing the brain and maybe hurting it. I mean I do multitasking everyday but that is how our brains are used to it. We all think that we can get our work and stuff done by focusing all things at once when really, you need to focus on one task to fully get the job done quickly and more efficient in general. Multi-tasking just gives all of that temporary and constant pleasure of thinking that we can get more work done.

I attempt to multitask sometimes when it comes to work that needs to be done but it gives me a painful annoying feeling in my brain so I just end up doing things one at a time. I just cant focus on more than one thing I'll just end up putting tons of time into one and only barely glancing at the other. That is of course unless you count munching on something while I work because I do that all the time

Well really multitasking is a myth if someone says they can multitask they are either lying or delusional, the human brain can not perform two tasks that require high level brain
function at once. Low level functions like breathing and pumping blood
aren't considered in multitasking, only tasks you have to "think" about.
What actually happens when you think you are multitasking is that you
are rapidly switching between tasks. The cerebral cortex handles the brain's "executive controls". Those are
the controls that organize the brains tasks processing. The controls
are divided into two stages. The first is goal shifting. Goal shifting happens when you switch your focus from one task to another. The second stage is rule activation. Rule activation turns off the rules
(how the brain completes a given task) for the previous task and turns
on the rules for the new task. So when you think you are multitasking you are actually switching your
goals and turning the respective rules on and off in rapid succession.
The switches are fast (tenths of a second) so you may not notice them,
but those delays and the loss of focus can add up.(If you want articles or proof that back up my claims just let me know be happy to help).

Lycan212 : I'm sorry but even if science proves that a person can't actively multi-task but instead changes their goals and targets in a tenth of a second.... I'd still consider that multi-tasking.... 

I can multi-task, but then again I don't perform as well as I would if I was doing solely one task alone... Most of the time I'm chatting on skype, Whilst playing video games. I can do other things as well. But then it actively involves pausing the game to reply to another conversation and whilst some may consider that multi tasking I don't.... 

It's mainly just me talking and having conversations whilst doing physical activity with my body.... I mean I do it a lot when I am playing dodge ball so it's pretty easy personally. But then again... like I said above... it could be that no one is truly multi tasking.. But that tenth of a second change in priorities or tasks.. Is small enough for me to pretty much say... it's doing two things at once and constantly thinking about both of them... whilst still doing both tasks to a decent standard.

sonicmcmuffin : Upon further speculation there really may be something to multi tasking, upon looking more into it there are quite the few articles that do support there is such a thing as multi tasking, also as well upon doing a very simplistic experiment it is proven to be true, ( put a pencil in your right hand, and another in your left hand and try to write with both, which can be done). So yes in theory I do think it is possible to multi task. Sorry if I sounded critical, harsh, or mean in my first post. I had a stressful day and such, I am really in the category/believer in pretty much anything is possible. But yes on this topic there is as much if not more evidence that indeed mutli tasking is not only real, but an individual can partake in it. 

I usually have no need to multitask, so i haven't accrued much "practise".

However, i still find myself able to kick in the necessary parts if the situation arises. For example, talking and working is difficult for me, but i CAN pull it off.

I'm not sure if this counts, but I actively listen to music and read through my forums at the same time (while watching chat, but that requires switching tabs so I won't count it). I wouldn't count this, but I'm actively paying attention to the words, so I figure it's good enough.

I also regularly will play video games while chatting with friends, watching chat, or similar things. Just ways to keep productive while enjoying myself, I guess.

I do a lot of multitasking. It gets worse the more tired I am.

And I'm terribly inefficient at it. I really should be trying to stop.

I'm currently multitasking by watching chat, posting, listening to music, and unpacking. =P

I don't multitask a lot, usually just procrastinating. But when I do multitask, I'm usually watching a movie, talking on the phone, chewing gum, listening to music, on the Internet, and playing video games with friends. Usually though, I just don't multitask. Multitasking interferes with my procrastinating, so I just end up doing one or two things at a time. Studies show that listening to the right kind of music and chewing gum, actually improve your thinking as well as helping you concentrate more on the task at hand.

Barathemos : Procrastination for the win.

Singelli : i can super multi task i can do 3 different subjects of work while litening to music and be on vizzed and the chat vf and face book and still get A+ on everything

Hm... More often than not, I'm called out for hyperfocus. XD I only multitask when I must, or when the work would still be done with the same efficiency (e.g. eating breakfast while reading/watching the news, or drying my hair while playing chess against the computer).

I am actually really bad at multitasking now, though I used to be good at it, but now I really cant do two things at once no matter what it is.

I never knew that. I multitask all the time, whether it be drawing or doing homework. I can't do my homework like any regular student, so I listen to instrumental, orchestrated music while I eat snacks to keep me from going to other websites (all of my homework is online). For drawing, I go on Skype to chat with my cousins while I listen to music or watch anime. Sometimes, I'll do both homework and drawing if I'm having a bad day (in which case I am right now). But all in all, I try to keep the other tasks easy for me to handle, or else I might burst into tears and wish Jesus comes back at that very moment. 

I love this topic Kelli! In fact, I'm finding that I like a lot of your topics/threads XD

Anyway, I'm sure that everybody in some point of their life has done some form of multitasking, although many probably have not realized such an action. In my case, my job requires me to multitask, so I am constantly practicing it.

For example, one customer might walk into my shop and purchase a bowling ball. I will then start fitting them for the ball and I'll finally start to drill it. In the middle of drilling the ball, another customer will walk in and want their finger grips changed. Since it only takes me literally 10 seconds to change finger grips, I'll stop drilling the ball and change the finger grips. Of course, I'll notify the first customer that I will help the second customer real quick, and I'll immediately continue drilling their ball.

That is only one minor case of me multitasking. I won't really get into other, more complicated cases that involve more customers, but my point is I practically practice multitasking everyday, and I don't mind it at all. I love my job, and the more I do it, the more I can complete the tasks quicker and more efficiently.

They have been a couple of occasions that I had to multitask, mostly when it revolves around my job. Because trying to do a bunch of things at once can be quite hard on your body but it does need to be done and you really have no help around, sometimes, you really have no choice but to multitask, and even multitasking things, it does slow you down a whole lot because getting two things done at the same time takes like around the same time as getting those two same things done at different times. So multitasking isn't really worth it to my opinion.

Not often. I'm terrible at multitasking, but I still try to do it once in a while. When I'm multitasking, I'm usually talking to my friends while doing homework. That surprisingly works out well most of the time, especially if one of my friends keeps yakking about sports and I don't care XD

I'm personally not much for multi-tasking but I can if I need to. I am more single minded in my focus. I prefer to just get one thing done at a time than worry about not finishing anything by trying to spread myself out too far. So no I don't practice multi-tasking. We all do simple multi-tasking all the time but by your question I think you mean big things all at once ( not like reading, listening to music, watching tv, playing a game, facebooking, etc ... all at the same time ). That is tough to do for harder more complex things but can be done. Just don't see why anyone considers their life hectic enough to put themselves through that crap. My philosophy is : ( Take it one day at a time .. one thing at a time. It'll all get done eventually. "