The Definition

Multitask: - noun; The concurrent operation by one central processing unit of two or more processes (Dictionary.com). Or in layman's terms, multitasking is doing two or more things at the same time.

Multitasking is generally considered an efficiency expert's bread and butter. If you can do two things at once then you're essentially doubling your time efficiency for those tasks. However, not all tasks were meant to be multitasked with others. Moreover, if you're not careful you might end up not only decreasing your efficiencies but also endangering those around you.

When not to multitask

In college I had a course that made a policy of no multitasking while in class. Of course students weren't pleased with this policy (and without a doubt a number of my classmates didn't adhere to it), but the rationale behind the policy was justified: multitasking hinders your performance on any of the tasks involved. A recent Stanford study shows that multitaskers have a harder time performing a task because "everything distracts them." My professor would suggest that when you are multitasking the brain is rapidly switching back and forth between two thoughts, generally giving more focus to whichever task has the largest reward (i.e. the task you find more interesting). Now unless you found that day's lecture to be the most interesting thing in your life, it is likely that you would have given more focus to the email, instant messages, and Youtube videos on the computer screen in front of you than to the lecture given by the professor. Not only are these students wasting the money they paid to be able to attend that very lecture, just think about all the extra time that they have to spend relearning the material before a test that they could have saved by just paying attention in the first place.

Another classic example is talking on the cell phone (or doing your makeup, or shaving, or all of the above) while driving. Countless studies have proven that your ability to drive safely is hindered while you're trying to multitask. So I must ask, is saving those few extra minutes in the morning worth your health and safety and of those around you? Obviously not; and to top it all off, just think about all of the time, financial, and universal happiness inefficiencies of every single wreck due to unintelligent multitasking.

Keep it simple ... stupid

You should not be multitasking when any task demands your full attention.

When to multitask

Hopefully I haven't scared you away from multitasking completely because it really is a smart and efficient thing to do when you do it intelligently. And when is that? Quite simply, if you ever find yourself doing something that doesn't require your full attention, you could be multitasking.

Is brushing your teeth in the morning pretty mindless? Try combining it with making your bed. Is exercise boring? Then Walk Your Butt Off Using Hidden Time in Your Routine. Think doing chores or having your mom talk your ear off on the phone takes up too much of your time? Try combining the two. I could go on and on with countless examples, but all you need to do is use a little imagination. If the tasks don't require your full attention; combine, multitask, and be efficient.

What about the grey area?

As with all things in life, deciding if you should multitask or not isn't quite so black and white. For example, if talking on the cell phone while driving is bad, what about talking to a friend in the car or listening to a book on tape while driving? Or what about working on various, unrelated assignments while you're in an office meeting? Or, on a lighter note, what about talking while your mouth is full of food? The law, or social etiquette, may give you a clear answer on some types of multitasking, but in the grand scheme of things it all comes down to your own personal morals and values. Sure, you could bring your job home with you and work on your computer every evening while talking with your spouse and kids, but is giving them half of your attention really the best idea? When it all comes down to it, you're your own boss. Just do what you think is right.

The best of the worst (and the best)

One of the craziest multitaskers I have ever heard about was a woman that was discussed on my local news not too long ago. Apparently she had gotten pulled over because she was talking on her cell phone while driving down the interstate... while putting on her makeup... and in the process of shaving her legs; one of which was hanging out the driver-side window.

On a different note, perhaps one of my most favorite crazy multitaskers was Steve Irwin. Not only did he entertain the world, he also provided an educational program while he was sticking his arm in an alligator's mouth or smacking the head of a venomous snake. Ordinarily messing with venomous snakes would be something you would not want to multitask with other things, but whether you liked the man or not, you have to admit that he was rather talented with handling dangerous creatures.

Matt Damon as Mark Whitacre in the movie "The Informant!" probably sums it up best with: "Being able to do two things at once is a big part of success. I try to do abdominal exercises... Isometrics. ...even when I'm at a meeting. Tensing. Holding. Then releasing. I'll even floss in the shower while the conditioner is in my hair, during the part when you're just supposed to leave it in. Those things can really add up to a significant time savings."

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