Multi-Tasking: Beneficial or Detrimental?
Multi-tasking: Beneficial or Detrimental?
Today, multitasking is found everywhere with a huge variety of situational settings. Multitasking can be argued to mean different things to all individuals. Nonetheless, there is a lack of real comprehension of the complications involving multitasking. I plan to provide insight into what multitasking implies and means. My research will present how multitasking is preformed in both observational and personal combinations. This essay will explore the concept of switching form one undertaking to another and provide a relational view on multitasking in today’s environment.
I was at work the other day when I decided to put my multitasking skills to the test. I came up with the idea to challenge myself within the course of two days. On day #1, I decided to go about my day as I normally did: taking multiple projects that came my way and working on all of them simultaneously. On day #2, I planned on still taking on multiple projects, but only devoting my complete attention to only one task at a time. Day #1 felt to me like what I always did. My manager gave me a few projects to complete by the end of the day and I would get started as soon as I could. As I worked, I had to continually stop, as customers’ needs would arise. Then I would have to head back and continue my project until interrupted. This would happen multiple times throughout the day, on top of getting called up to the cash registers. I found it frustrating; all I wanted to do was finish my projects! After awhile the end of my shift had approached and it was time for my workday to come to an end. The projects I had started were not complete, resulting in me coming in an hour early the next day. On day #2, I had to complete my projects from the previous day and I was determined to have a better start. As I started on my first project, I was paged to the cash register numerous times, but politely asked my coworker to take my place. More and more projects were getting
Today, multitasking is found everywhere with a huge variety of situational settings. Multitasking can be argued to mean different things to all individuals. Nonetheless, there is a lack of real comprehension of the complications involving multitasking. I plan to provide insight into what multitasking implies and means. My research will present how multitasking is preformed in both observational and personal combinations. This essay will explore the concept of switching form one undertaking to another and provide a relational view on multitasking in today’s environment.
I was at work the other day when I decided to put my multitasking skills to the test. I came up with the idea to challenge myself within the course of two days. On day #1, I decided to go about my day as I normally did: taking multiple projects that came my way and working on all of them simultaneously. On day #2, I planned on still taking on multiple projects, but only devoting my complete attention to only one task at a time. Day #1 felt to me like what I always did. My manager gave me a few projects to complete by the end of the day and I would get started as soon as I could. As I worked, I had to continually stop, as customers’ needs would arise. Then I would have to head back and continue my project until interrupted. This would happen multiple times throughout the day, on top of getting called up to the cash registers. I found it frustrating; all I wanted to do was finish my projects! After awhile the end of my shift had approached and it was time for my workday to come to an end. The projects I had started were not complete, resulting in me coming in an hour early the next day. On day #2, I had to complete my projects from the previous day and I was determined to have a better start. As I started on my first project, I was paged to the cash register numerous times, but politely asked my coworker to take my place. More and more projects were getting
Cited: American Psychological Association, Multitasking: Switching costs. March 20, 2006. Web. Feb, 2013. http://www.apa.org/research/action/multitask.aspx Bradley, Matt. Personal interview. 4/10/13 Meyer, D. Rogers, R. & Monsell, S. (1995). The costs of a predictable switch between simple cognitive tasks. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 124, 207-231. Rubinstein, Joshua S.; Meyer, David E.; Evans, Jeffrey E. (2001). Executive Control of Cognitive Processes in Task Switching. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 27(4), 763-797. Smith, Jenner. Personal interview. 4/10/13 Tugand, Alina. Multitasking Can Make You Lose ... Um ... Focus. The New York Times. October 24, 2008. B7. Print.