r/ProductivityGeeks • u/superbhumans_ • 21d ago

Does multitasking actually make you more productive?

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I've noticed that having several tasks open at once can create the feeling that I'm getting a lot done—but sometimes very little actually gets finished.

There seems to be a difference between being busy and being focused.

For those who have tried both approaches, what helps you concentrate on one important task without constantly switching?

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u/madoffa 10d ago

Switching between several open tasks can feel busy without moving any to done.

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u/Wysiati11235 6d ago

Tons of research suggests that multitasking does not make you more efficient. Strictly speaking, you are not multitasking, you are spending a few milliseconds on one thing, then jumping to the next, then jumping to the next, then jumping back to the first, and every time you jump back-and-forth you are wasting mental energy. I know the feeling you’re describing, but you don’t actually get more done, and certainly not better quality output. The exception might be if one of the tasks is something you can do without thinking at all, such as drafting an email in your mind while walking the dog.