Multitasking myth: why you do more, but achieve less
Multitasking is often presented in the modern business world as a desirable skill. The idea that a person can simultaneously respond to emails, participate in meetings, and work on tasks creates the impression of high efficiency and productivity.
However, research in cognitive psychology and organizational behavior shows the opposite: multitasking does not increase productivity — it reduces it.
In practice, what people call multitasking is actually rapid switching of attention between tasks. This process carries real cognitive costs that accumulate throughout the day and result in reduced focus, a higher number of mistakes, and slower work performance.
This article explains why multitasking is a myth, how it affects the brain and productivity, and which time management methods enable better focus and greater results with less mental effort.
What Multitasking Is and Why It Is Not True Multitasking
Multitasking is defined as performing multiple tasks simultaneously. However, the human brain does not have the ability to process complex cognitive activities in parallel.
Instead, the brain uses a process known as “task switching” — rapidly switching between tasks.
Every time attention shifts from one task to another, several things happen:
- the mental context of the previous task is lost
- time is required to regain focus
- cognitive load increases
- attention becomes fragmented
Although this process may seem unnoticeable, its cumulative cost throughout the workday can be very high.
As a result, multitasking does not lead to greater productivity, but rather to its fragmentation into smaller, less efficient segments.
The impact of multitasking on performance and cognitive load
(1) multitasking led to a significant decrease in accuracy, a significant increase in reaction time, and a significant increase in cognitive load; (2) task interruptions significantly increased reaction time and cognitive load, while reducing task execution accuracy only in single-task work (monotasking); this effect was not significant in multitasking; (3) moderate and high levels of resilience significantly affected the increase in cognitive load associated with task interruptions during multitasking.
Source: Effects of multitasking and task interruptions on task performance and cognitive load: considering the moderating role of individual resilience (2024)
How Multitasking Affects Focus and Cognitive Abilities
When a person tries to do multiple things at the same time, the brain does not remain in a stable state of concentration. Instead, it constantly switches between different tasks, leading to what is known as fragmented focus.
In such a state, a person never enters deep concentration, but instead remains at a superficial level of attention.
The consequences include slower decision-making, a greater number of mistakes, and a reduced ability to solve complex problems. Mental fatigue also increases, because every interruption and return to focus requires additional energy.
Over time, this way of working creates a feeling of constant busyness without real progress.
The Consequences of Multitasking on Productivity
Although multitasking can create the impression that a person is doing multiple things at the same time, the actual results are often the opposite.
One of the biggest problems is the reduction in work quality. When attention is not fully focused on a single task, the number of mistakes increases and precision decreases.
Another problem is the extended time required to complete tasks. Every switch between activities requires additional time to re-establish focus, which slows down the entire work process.
The third problem is mental fatigue. The brain uses more energy when it constantly changes focus than when it works continuously on a single task.
The fourth problem is the so-called “illusion of productivity,” where a person feels extremely busy, but the actual output is lower than perceived.
What Science Says About Multitasking
Research in the field of cognitive psychology clearly shows that multitasking has a negative effect on work efficiency.
Studies published by the American Psychological Association show that frequent task switching increases the time needed to complete tasks and reduces accuracy.
Similar conclusions are presented in analyses by Harvard Business Review, which emphasize that multitasking is not true parallel processing, but rather a process that involves a “cognitive switching cost” — the cost of shifting attention.
This cost, although small for each individual interruption, has a significant cumulative effect on productivity throughout the day.
The Pomodoro Technique for Productivity and Focus
The Pomodoro Technique (PT) is a time management method that divides work into focused intervals separated by short breaks. Its goal is to increase productivity and reduce mental fatigue. Although the Pomodoro Technique has shown positive effects on cognitive performance in various fields, its application in anatomical education, which requires a high level of cognitive effort, is still not sufficiently researched.
Source: Assessing the efficacy of the Pomodoro technique in enhancing anatomy lesson retention during study sessions: a scoping review, E. Ogut (2025)
Why People Still Use Multitasking
Despite the evidence, multitasking is still very common in modern work environments.
One of the main reasons is the digital environment, which constantly generates interruptions. Notifications, emails, and messages create a sense of urgency, even though most of them do not require an immediate response.
Another reason is the social perception of productivity. Many people believe that being busy is the same as being productive, although this is not true in practice.
A third reason is the lack of work structure. Without a clear plan for the day, people naturally move from one task to another without prioritization.
How to Manage Time Without Multitasking
A more effective approach than multitasking is organizing work into clearly defined focus blocks.
One of the most well-known methods is the Pomodoro Technique, which divides work into short intervals of focused work with breaks. This approach helps the brain maintain concentration and reduces mental fatigue.
Another method is time blocking, where the entire day is pre-structured into time blocks dedicated to specific types of tasks. This eliminates the need for constantly deciding what to do next.
A third method is the Eisenhower Matrix, which helps distinguish between important and urgent tasks. In this way, time spent on less important activities is reduced.
A combination of these methods enables more stable focus and a more predictable workday.
How to Reduce Distractions in Digital Work
One of the biggest problems of modern work is constant digital distractions.
To reduce their impact, it is important to introduce clear work rules. This includes turning off unnecessary notifications, setting specific times for checking emails, and using focus tools.
It is also important to physically separate the work environment from the private space. The brain reacts strongly to context, so changing the environment can significantly improve concentration.
Why the Environment Plays a Key Role in Focus
The environment in which we work has a direct impact on our ability to concentrate.
In an unorganized and poorly defined space, attention is more easily scattered, which increases the need for multitasking.
In a structured work environment, the brain more easily enters a state of focus because it receives clear signals that it is time to work.
How Coworking Reduces Multitasking
Coworking spaces help reduce multitasking by creating an environment that naturally encourages focus.
When a person is in a professional space, the number of distractions decreases and the sense of work structure increases. In addition, the presence of other focused individuals has a positive effect on personal productivity.
How Cowork Zagreb Helps Improve Focus
Cowork Zagreb offers a work environment optimized for productivity.
Instead of working in chaotic home conditions, users get a structured space that reduces distractions and increases focus.
Such an environment helps create routine and a clearer separation between professional and private life, which in the long term reduces the need for multitasking.
The Alternative to Multitasking: Deep Work
Deep work is a concept based on long periods of uninterrupted focus.
Instead of switching between tasks, attention is maintained on a single activity until it is completed.
Benefits include:
- faster solving of complex problems
- higher quality of work
- reduced mental fatigue
- greater sense of accomplishment
Deep work represents the opposite of multitasking and is one of the most effective approaches to modern productivity.
Conclusion: Multitasking Is an Illusion of Efficiency
Multitasking is often seen as a useful skill, but in reality it reduces focus, increases the number of mistakes, and slows down work.
True productivity does not come from the number of tasks we perform at the same time, but from the ability to focus on one task and complete it well.
In the digital era, the biggest advantage is not doing more things at once, but knowing how to do fewer things — with greater focus and better results.