We often hear that woman are better at multitasking than men are. That certainly has never been true for me, so I asked both Perplexity and ChatGPT about it. They both say it is a myth. Studies have shown that there is no significant sex difference when tested in controlled settings.
They both say that the human mind isn’t designed for multitasking. What really happens is the mind rapidly switches from one task to another. That is less efficient and more error-prone than doing one task after another (when that is possible). Multitasking can even weaken our ability to focus and make decisions if it happens for too long.
What do you think? Do you think you are good at multitasking? Do you like to do it? Both Andy and I do much better if we do one thing at a time! In fact, things go quickly to pot if we don’t do that. Of course, our ages may have something to do with it. 😀
(If you would like to read more see Multitasking doesn’t work—here’s what does.)
July 8, 2025
Multitasking is like looking both ways before crossing one’s legs.
God bless.
🙂
…at the least, I can walk and chew gum at the same time.
That’s impressive!
Working in the bakery I was pretty good at multitasking. If I had done things one at a time I never would have had enough time to get it all done.
It depends on the job.
I once read that there is no true multitasking, you do a better job doing one thing at a time. A girlfriend who is convinced she is great at multitasking disagreed with me.
I have always sucked at multitasking, so I can’t really speak for anyone else.
My husband used to call me one-track because I get obsessed with a topic and hyper-focus oh it. So, no, I’m not fond of multitasking but I can do it if I have to.
i prefer to get immersed in one thing at a time, and to have a lot of “moodling time” for my subconscious to process things.
I used to be very good at it and enjoyed it. My favorite jobs were where I had 12 irons in the fire and remembered every one of them, what had yet to be done, could juggle them according to what else came up, and get them all finished well. Can’t do that anymore.
That’s impressive that you could do it before!
Nowadays, I sometimes have trouble focusing on even one task. All that former switching around messed with my ability to concentrate.
That’s what they say, but maybe some people can get by with it.
I remember when multi-tasking was thought of as admirable … a gold star on one’s resume.
Maybe — for mundane, repetitive tasks — that’s still true; (but) not so for anything requiring much thought. Even driving!
PS – I haven’t heard the expression “going to pot” since my mother passed. You just made me smile!
I’m glad about your smile. 🙂
Very interesting. I have a theory as to why women are thought to multitask better. It is because they have to. Babies, cooking, housework, shopping, etc. I think their lives just involve more multi-tasking than a man who may have one job. I used to be quite good at it. But now as I age, it is even hard to single-task!!
I’m sure that’s why women are supposed to be good at it, it was necessity.
I have always been a multitasker and was pretty good at it too. My husband is a one focus kind of guy. As the years have gone by, I find now that it is good to keep my tasking a little less “multi”:)
🙂
Sometimes I can multitask and sometimes I messytask!
😀
Haha I am very good at multitasking!
Good for you! I suck at it. 🙂