Multitasking makes you more efficient, right? Wrong. While it is widely believed that multitasking makes you more efficient, it turns out to actually slow you down.
At Stride Limo, we take pride in making things as convenient and comfortable as possible for our customers. Efficiency is extremely important in New York Chauffeur Service industry.
According to a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance (Vol. 27, No. 4), doing two unfamiliar tasks at the same time will actually slow you down rather than help you get the job done quicker. That’s because your brain takes longer to switch between tasks, so you waste time, instead of just focusing and getting the job done.
We know what you’re thinking. We multitask all the time, and it works just fine. The truth is almost all of us multitask, and it could be doing us more bad than good.
Simple tasks are fine. You will have no problem folding your laundry while listening to the news or a podcast. You can talk on the phone while walking down the street. That’s because one or both of these tasks don’t require direct focus, they’re not taking up your brain’s cognitive function. But then try to read your emails while listening to the news, you’ll find that your ability to complete these tasks is hindered.
Catching Up on Emails During Dinner?
Another interesting fact is that multitasking during meal times can actually make you overeat. Most of us will watch the TV during dinner, or sit in front of our computers with lunch, or even read the news on your phone, but it’s actually stopping your brain from focusing on the food you’re consuming. That means you more likely to eat more than you need or eat again after a short time.
Do It for Your Safety
With the development of smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, we have a lot distracting us at the minute. It quickly became extremely common for people to look at their phones while driving. It seemed natural. But when you think about it, it’s like trying to read a book while driving. You just wouldn’t do it. Washington was the first state to pass a texting ban in 2007, with almost every other state following suit.
How to Improve Efficiency
If you really want to become more efficient, you should take a step back and tackle one task at a time. Make a TO-DO list and systematically work through the list. You should also minimize distractions as effectively as possible, take regular breaks (work in increments of 60-90 minutes) and try to notice quickly if you are getting distracted.
If you want to make your work day or business trip more efficient, book onto our New York Airport Shuttle or NYC Chauffeur Service.
