Doing several activities at the same time seems like we’re getting a lot done in a short amount of time. We’re all guilty of this and one of the main skills employers are looking for on a resume.

We artificially think that we’re being so efficient texting while walking, sending emails while sitting in a meeting, chatting on the phone while reviewing notes…the list is endless. We live in a world where doing just one thing seems so wasteful. But did you know that research proves that not only is multitasking inefficient, it can be even harmful to our health.

What we assume is multitasking is really task-switching. Our brain has a finite amount of how much it can devote to attention and productivity. Moving back and forth between several tasks actually wastes productivity. You only get a little done on each task and ultimately results in many of tasks only partially completed.

It turns out that 98% of the population doesn’t multi-task very well. Only about 2% are good at multi-tasking and these ‘supertaskers are true outliers.’ For most of us, we’re not really multi-tasking – we’re actually shifting back and forth from one task to another, such as typing an email and then listening to that conference call conversation, then back to our email and so on. ~ Lisa Quast, Forbes Contributor dated Feb 6, 2017 @ 4:00am.

Here’s Top 10 Reasons to stop multitasking, rethink the way you approach work and live a better life.

1. It’s SLOWING you down – going back and forth between projects actually takes longer than focusing on one project at a time. However, what tends to SAVE the most time is doing things in BATCHES, i.e pay all your bills at once, then send all your emails at once, etc. That’s because there’s a finite time to complete and you’re focused on doing just one activity.
2. You’re making MISTAKES – did you know that alternating tasks can actually result in a 40% loss of productivity? This is true especially if one or more of your tasks involves a great deal of critical thinking. Errors occur more frequently because you have to remember where you left off from each activity.
3. It’s STRESSING you out – multitasking can lead to a negative result which can trigger a lot of stress, and develop self-esteem issues and depression. A great example is a student thinks he/she can study for the finals while watching a baseball game on TV … only to result in receiving a poor grade.
4. You’re MISSING out on life – a study showed that people who are too consumed in doing two things simultaneously fail to observe their surroundings. A prime example are people talking on their phone while walking frequently miss nearby activities or people. Researchers call this “unintentional blindness”.
5. Your MEMORY may suffer – a 2011 study uncovered that doing two things at the same time results in missing important details of one or both. Even interrupting one task to suddenly focus on another can be enough to disrupt short term memory.
6. It’s HURTING your relationships – this is a no brainer. Communications erodes overtime when your cell phone gets priority over your significant other. Rebuild and strengthen your relationship simply by giving your partner some exclusive attention for at least 10 minutes.
7. It can make you OVEREAT – This one is a surprise! But it makes sense, because you’re so busy eating while watching TV or on your computer that your brain doesn’t properly register that you’ve completed your meal. As a result you either continue eating or tend to eat again a short time later.
8. You’re NOT actually GOOD at it – according to a 2013 University of Utah study those who think they are masters at multitasking actually are among the worst. The research focused on cell phone use while driving and found that those who scored highest on multitasking tests don’t frequently engage in driving and using the cell phone at the same time.
9. You can’t OHIO – an acronym that stands for Only Handle It Once. A rule of thumb for many people with ADHD but can be practiced by anyone who wants to be more organized according to psychiatrists and productivity experts. What this means in a nutshell, “if you take on something, don’t stop until you’ve finished it.” This takes a lot of discipline and practice.
10. It can be DANGEROUS – how many times have you seen people walking and talking oblivious of on-coming traffic? Worse case is driving and texting, even if your car has a hands-free devise. In many States there are severe penalties when caught. Numerous accidents and fatalities could have been avoided if people had stopped multitasking.

So what have we learned? Multitasking is not a skill to add to the resume, but rather a bad habit to put a stop to. Stay focused on one activity at a time until you reach completion. Stop and smell the roses. Put the cell phone down and talk to people face to face and enjoy your surroundings. In the long run, you’ll get more things accomplished, be more accurate, have less stress, be healthier, and enjoy your life and your relationships more.