Health and Me

'Toxic Multitasking' Is Quietly Wrecking Your Focus. Here's What's Actually Happening

How Multitasking Affects Your Brain

You're on a work call, replying to a Slack message, and half-watching a YouTube video in another tab, all at once. It feels efficient. According to a new research, it's doing the opposite.

<h2>The science behind the term</h2>Researchers at the Center for BrainHealth are calling this pattern "<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/lsd-based-treatment-clears-second-phase-3-trial-could-it-be-the-first-new-gad-drug-in-2-decades-article-156196458" data-type="tilCustomLink">toxic multitasking</a>," and in an interview with The Washington Post, the centre's chief director, Dr Sandi Chapman, said it creates an illusion of productivity while actually making the brain work harder and produce less. "When you switch between tasks, your brain doesn't instantly reset. It burns through your mental energy," Chapman said.

This isn't just a new buzzword. It lines up with older, well-established research. A 2009 Stanford University study, led by researcher Eyal Ophir along with professors Clifford Nass and Anthony Wagner, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tested heavy multitaskers against people who preferred single-tasking. The heavy multitaskers performed worse on nearly every test, they were more easily distracted by irrelevant information and had a harder time organising their memory. "We kept looking for what multitaskers are better at, and we didn't find it," Ophir said at the time.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/six-warning-signs-your-gym-routine-is-doing-more-harm-than-good-article-156223002" data-type="tilCustomLink">6 Warning Signs Your Gym Routine Is Doing More Harm Than Good</a>

<h2>What this looks like in everyday life</h2>Think about how this shows up in an ordinary day. Scrolling Instagram while watching a film and later not remembering the plot. Replying to office emails during a family dinner and missing half the conversation. Driving while on a call and only realising two exits later that you don't remember the drive. 

None of this feels dramatic in the moment, and that's exactly the problem, according to Chapman, who says the first sign of <span>toxic multitasking</span> usually isn't a mistake at work, but a quiet build-up of emotional strain, followed by <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/suicide-prevention-day-when-does-a-distressing-thought-become-a-suicide-warning-sign-experts-explain-article-156129079" data-type="tilCustomLink">burnout and brain fog</a>.

<h2>Why the brain struggles with this</h2>

The reason lies in how the brain actually works. It doesn't run two demanding tasks side by side. It rapidly switches between them, and each switch has a cost. Over a day filled with dozens of these switches, that cost adds up to real fatigue, even if no single task felt hard on its own.

The fix Chapman suggests isn't complicated, though it does require some discipline in a culture built around constant notifications. She recommends working on one task at a time, minimising avoidable distractions, taking regular <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/childhood-obesity-starts-before-the-weighing-scale-how-sleep-screens-daily-routines-shape-a-childs-weight-article-156183681" data-type="tilCustomLink">screen-free breaks</a>, and treating focus as a limited resource rather than something infinite. According to Chapman, people who make even this one change often notice an improvement in focus and mental energy fairly quickly.

Why Young People Struggle | Suicide Risk & Warning Signs | World Suicide Prevention Day

<h2>The bigger picture</h2>None of this means multitasking is always avoidable. Plenty of jobs, from newsrooms to hospitals, genuinely require handling several things at once under real time pressure. But the research points to a clear difference between switching tasks because a situation demands it, and constantly fragmenting attention out of sheer habit, the way most people now do without even noticing.

That second kind is the one both sets of researchers, separated by more than a decade, keep landing on as the real problem. It doesn't announce itself the way a missed deadline or a dropped call does. It shows up quietly, as a slightly foggier head by evening, a shorter fuse than usual, or a nagging feeling of having been busy all day without actually finishing anything. Recognising that gap, between feeling productive and actually being productive, may be the first real step toward fixing it. For now, the closest thing to a solution researchers have found isn't a new app or a hack. It's simply doing less, one thing at a time.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

how-multitasking-affects-your-brain

Toxic multitasking

Effects of multitasking

Multitasking and productivity

Brain fatigue

How multitasking affects the brain

sylvester-stallone-opens-up-about-bulimia-struggles-steroid-use-during-rocky-why-is-extremely-low-body-fat-risky

Sylvester Stallone Opens Up About Bulimia Struggles & Steroid Use During ‘Rocky’: Why Is Extremely Low Body Fat Risky

the-spleen-connection-why-myeloproliferative-neoplasms-can-cause-an-enlarged-spleen-early-fullness

The Spleen Connection: Why Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Can Cause An Enlarged Spleen & Early Fullness

Health & Wellness

8 Sit-Up Variations to Strengthen Your Core and Build Stability

Benefits Of Ayurvedic Health Supplement Ashwagandha

9 Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Options You Should Try

5 Foods You Should Avoid For PCOS, Says Gynecologist

Love Sitting With Your Legs Crossed? Here’s You Should Avoid It

6 Daily Foods That Are Secretly Increasing Your Calories

9 Brain Boosters You Should Do Everyday

Hip Exercises That Will Keep You Flexible As You Age

9 Leg Exercises Office Workers’ Should Do At Home

Benefits of Having Herbal Tea Every Morning

9 Daily Habits That Boost Your Brain Power

Lower-Body Exercises That Are Game-Changers

How Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Helps You

Aging Myths You Should Never Believe

Superfoods That Support Your Gut Health

What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Instant Noodles Every Day?

Health Issues Premature Babies Often Face

Exercises Office Workers Should Do For Their Heart Health

Reasons Why You Should Add Raw Turmeric To Your Diet

Benefits Of Drinking Milk At Night: Why You Should Do It

Food That Provides Vitamin B12 Naturally In Your Diet

Surprising Health Benefits Of Fenugreek Seeds

9 Superfoods You Should Eat For Your Brain Health

What Does Mental Health Support Look Like At Work?

Long Stretches You Should Do To Unwind From Your Day

Colon Cancer In Young Adults: Early Symptoms You Should Know

Health Benefits Of Eating Dry Fruits Everyday

Are You At Risk For Fried Rice Syndrome?

These Tests Reveal How Well You Are Aging

Lower-Back Exercises You Should Do After A Long-Day's Work

Children’s Diet – What Kids Need To Eat For Immunity Building

Common Diabetes Myths That Could Hurt Your Health

Love Spicy Food? Here’s How It Affects Your Health

Superfood List: Veggies And Fruits You Must Have For Immunity

Foods People With IBS Should Avoid

Exercises To Improve Digestion

Easy Work Lunches You Can Make In The Morning

Hunger Vs Craving: Difference Explained In 60 seconds

These Things Can Cause Your Heart To Age Faster

High Carb Foods That Are Actually Healthy

You're on a work call, replying to a Slack message, and half-watching a YouTube video in another tab, all at once. It feels efficient. According to a new research, it's doing the opposite.The science behind the termResearchers at the Center for BrainHealth are calling this pattern "toxic multitasking," and in an interview with The Washington Post, the centre's chief director, Dr Sandi Chapman, said it creates an illusion of productivity while actually making the brain work harder and produce less. "When you switch between tasks, your brain doesn't instantly reset. It burns through your mental energy," Chapman said.This isn't just a new buzzword. It lines up with older, well-established research. A 2009 Stanford University study, led by researcher Eyal Ophir along with professors Clifford Nass and Anthony Wagner, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tested heavy multitaskers against people who preferred single-tasking. The heavy multitaskers performed worse on nearly every test, they were more easily distracted by irrelevant information and had a harder time organising their memory. "We kept looking for what multitaskers are better at, and we didn't find it," Ophir said at the time.Also read: 6 Warning Signs Your Gym Routine Is Doing More Harm Than GoodWhat this looks like in everyday lifeThink about how this shows up in an ordinary day. Scrolling Instagram while watching a film and later not remembering the plot. Replying to office emails during a family dinner and missing half the conversation. Driving while on a call and only realising two exits later that you don't remember the drive. None of this feels dramatic in the moment, and that's exactly the problem, according to Chapman, who says the first sign of toxic multitasking usually isn't a mistake at work, but a quiet build-up of emotional strain, followed by burnout and brain fog.Why the brain struggles with thisThe reason lies in how the brain actually works. It doesn't run two demanding tasks side by side. It rapidly switches between them, and each switch has a cost. Over a day filled with dozens of these switches, that cost adds up to real fatigue, even if no single task felt hard on its own.What experts suggest doing insteadThe fix Chapman suggests isn't complicated, though it does require some discipline in a culture built around constant notifications. She recommends working on one task at a time, minimising avoidable distractions, taking regular screen-free breaks, and treating focus as a limited resource rather than something infinite. According to Chapman, people who make even this one change often notice an improvement in focus and mental energy fairly quickly.                                 The bigger pictureNone of this means multitasking is always avoidable. Plenty of jobs, from newsrooms to hospitals, genuinely require handling several things at once under real time pressure. But the research points to a clear difference between switching tasks because a situation demands it, and constantly fragmenting attention out of sheer habit, the way most people now do without even noticing.That second kind is the one both sets of researchers, separated by more than a decade, keep landing on as the real problem. It doesn't announce itself the way a missed deadline or a dropped call does. It shows up quietly, as a slightly foggier head by evening, a shorter fuse than usual, or a nagging feeling of having been busy all day without actually finishing anything. Recognising that gap, between feeling productive and actually being productive, may be the first real step toward fixing it. For now, the closest thing to a solution researchers have found isn't a new app or a hack. It's simply doing less, one thing at a time.

'toxic multitasking' is quietly wrecking your focus. here's what's actually happening

About Us

Contact Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Company

Health and Me is a premium website with content written and curated to function as a handbook for all Health concerns.

'Toxic Multitasking' Is Quietly Wrecking Your Focus. Here's What's Actually Happening

The Spleen Connection: Why Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Can Cause An Enlarged Spleen & Early Fullness

Sepsis Is Not One Disease: Why Identifying Different Types of Sepsis Could Change Treatment

Your Heart After A Cardiac Event: What Recovery Really Looks Like

Health Conditions A-Z

'Toxic Multitasking' Is Quietly Wrecking Your Focus. Here's What's Actually Happening

Sylvester Stallone Opens Up About Bulimia Struggles & Steroid Use During ‘Rocky’: Why Is Extremely Low Body Fat Risky

The Spleen Connection: Why Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Can Cause An Enlarged Spleen & Early Fullness