Multitasking: When to Do It, When (and How) to Avoid It

Huge thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring this video!

Close all your other tabs and stop juggling those chainsaws - today, we're talking about multitasking.

My book "10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades" is completely free, so check it out if you're interested in improving your grades!

Connect with me:

Listen to our latest podcast episode:

----------

Videos you might want to watch next:

----------

If you want to get even more strategies and tips on becoming a more productive, successful student, subscribe to my channel right here:

My video production gear:

~ created by Thomas Frank

[Chejos]

00:55 Multi-Tasking does exist, what doesn't exist is Multi-Focus
1:57 The human mind is not designed to switch back and forth between tasks quickly
2:11 Cognitive Switching Penalty
2:50 Commit to a single target of focus will make you more effective in the long run

Avoid temptation
3:04 Use iPad to write, just write
4:17 Use apps like Cold Turkey Writer
4:28 The key is to lock down your options

Multitasking can be useful.. sometimes
4:36 Neither the task you are doing requires intense concentration, or you've mastered to the point it's essentially muscle memory
5:20 You want to background process something in your head
5:30 Two different modes of processing. Focused mode and Defused mode

6:05 RECAP

[fakenamefakesurname]

I haven't seen the whole video yet but when he said "multitasking does exist but what doesn't exist is multifocus" i was instantly mindblowed

[grrrgrl]

The video I didn't know I needed. This is an awesome video to add to the discussion of this topic, thanks!

[Historylover]

I have this major issue of working on schoolwork then having a thought pop into my mind like "I wonder if the price on that camera has dropped" then I find myself researching that on the web then I'll go back to work. I'll do this multiple times with various things. Does anyone else struggle with this and intense focus?

[CKTDanny]

You're killing it with these new videos!! 1 million subs soon :)

[CKTDanny]

1:35 Nice RuneScape mention there BTW
_I'm really tempted to go back to playing that game._

[abhishekanshuwali]

He gives the most practical advises for boosting productivity. Loving your channel videos

[octopusgold]

really appreciate how much work you put into your videos!! truly unique and awesome and RESOURCEFUL videos unlike any other study/productivity videos on youtube. keep it up!!

[stoicfloor]

The quality of your videos has truly stepped up to another level. Great editing!

[IsaacBlencowe]

Fantastic video as always Tom. I love the way you use humour and analogies in your videos. It always keeps me engaged! Your personality and video quality is what helped inspire me to start a channel of my own. So thanks for that :)

[cheyennebarton]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU for this video. I wonder why I feel busy all day and wind up with almost nothing done.

[siegfriedderheld]

Congratulations on getting close to a million subscribers. I’m a 64 year-old university professor, but I wish I had your channel 50 years ago when I was struggling in school and needed to learn how to study. Your explanation of human cognition for your audience is amazing. Thanks for your work! Now, let’s get this channel over 1 million! Mike

[epson]

I just wanted to say that I have been following your channel for a while and it is great to see how you have evolved in the content and how you are expanding into other topics.
Thanks for the tips.

[koalasevmeyenkola]

I hate people calling it multi tasking bad while porblem is switching focus.

[jahighansam]

YOOOO I was just about to start work and then this man pops up :v... lol on point as usual. Great video

[lucasmoreira]

Your videos are amazing, getting better and better. Thanks a lot.

[OmarEl-Aasar]

At last some quality video from you again, and I'm still waitin' for your next book EAGERLY

[amoghpai]

when i watch your videos i just get motivated enough to start with my work and not waste time !!! Love your videos Thomas..

[QuesoCookies]

This is something I meant to comment on in your intense focus video: don't work past the break period of your pomodoro timer. You suggested increasing the focus time longer and longer as you got better at focusing, but there are a ton of benefits to taking those regular breaks, mainly allowing yourself to step back and evaluate your work. While focus is fantastic for work, it's a killer of creativity. Creative thoughts happen during moments of unfocused thoughts and relaxation (which is why you have so many good ideas in the shower), so you can save a lot of time you might spend backtracking and revising if you don't put off breaks and periodically evaluate where your work is progressing and getting it more right the first time through. The second most important part of taking periodic breaks, especially if you're working at a computer, is to give your eyes a break. Whenever you take a break, focus your eyes on something in the distant horizon, the further away the better. This helps prevent eyestrain and the distracting headaches that go with them.

[ILoveCreativity]

Thanks for the video Thomas. Here is the thought, If multitasking is impossible then how our brain handles multiple stuff all at once like processing images captured by our eyes with breathing, listening and walking simultaneously and also reacting if something bites at the moment.