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Multitasking Is a Regression
Leadership / Principles · Added Apr 2026 · Updated Jun 2026
Doing two things at once means doing neither well.
The Idea
Multitasking feels productive but it's a downgrade. Your brain doesn't run tasks in parallel — it switches between them, paying a cost each time. Every switch drops your performance: slower thinking, more errors, shallower work. What looks like efficiency is actually fragmented attention pretending to be output.
Why It Matters
- Context switching can cost 15-25 minutes of recovery per switch.
- The more complex the work, the higher the switching cost.
- Teams that reward "juggling many things" are rewarding the appearance of productivity, not the substance.
- Chronic multitasking trains your brain to stay shallow. Over time, you lose the ability to focus deeply.
How to Apply
- Do one thing at a time. Finish it or park it deliberately before starting the next.
- Batch similar tasks — emails, code reviews, meetings — instead of scattering them through the day.
- Protect blocks of uninterrupted time for your most important work.
- When someone adds a task, ask what gets deprioritised. Don't just stack it on top.
The Trap
Confusing multitasking with responsiveness. Being available doesn't mean being interruptible. You can respond promptly at natural break points without fragmenting your focus.
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