Focus and multitasking

Only about 2% of people are good multitaskers. See this article for infographics. Using the multitasking skills, our working memory gets overloaded trying to shift focus. While it is  possible to improve the context switch of the working memory [there are such excersises in our resources], we still drop at least 10 points of IQ when multitasking. This is as bad as being drunk or smoking pot or not having a good night sleep.

So, should we ditch multitasking altogether? Not necessarily. It is all about priorities. Most of the everyday tasks we handle are boring (low challenge) and we are relaxed handling them. It could be possible to speed them up to spice up our life, and it could be as good to stack them on each other in a multitasking way.

For example, suppose a below average man has a working memory of 6 items. In theory this person could easily stuck together 2 tasks using 3 items each or 3 tasks using 3 items each. Watching a sitcom and playing strategy game, cooking and talking to kids, making laundry and trying to plan next family activity, talking over phone with friend and drinking coffee – we can easily manage all of those things. Juggling 3 of such things can move us from relaxation to flow. I guess parenting 3 kids is just one of such wonderful flow experiences.

As an opposite example consider superlearning. When done correctly, superlearning uses all of your available mental resources, but no more resources than those that are actually available. And then your wife asks you to help with groceries, or your mother calls   and starts to talk about her illnesses. You do not have any resources for them. You do not have a mental marker to where you stopped. This is pretty much irritating.

To switch focus when working in “the flow”, you need to train specifically this focus switching. Even then it comes at a cost, and maybe it is just better to put your cellphone on silent and to ask your relatives not to interfere. But suppose you need to switch focus anyway, like when you are programming and a client appears on your doorsteps unexpectedly…. First of all it is very important not to panic or loose temper. Just smile, and make progressively wider smile for a couple of seconds. Use these seconds to switch focus, and then greet your guests saying how happy you are to see them.

How do you use these precious seconds you have while smiling? First of all you need to fixate in your memory where you are both in terms of text and in terms of your marker chain. Create specific markers to where you stop. Then clean up the working memory, and feel you working memory with information about the interference. That’s about it. You do not have time for more.

If you are super-effective at specific hours of day, try to schedule meetings with yourself, if possible close the door, use earmuffs, and tell your spouse and parents not to call during these specific hours….