What many people might call “multitasking” may actually be something psychologists call “rapid task-switching.”
I believe in this quote; it's a clear fact, that I can't simultaneously do two different things at the same time
For example, when you answer texts while watching a movie, your attention flips from the movie to the text. You aren’t really paying any attention both at the same time. When you read a text, you miss part of the movie
This is what psychologists mean when they say multitasking is impossible. Your attention and consciousness only can focus on a little bit at a time, so it’s one task or the other per time.
There’s a delay also, when you switch from one thing to another, and sometimes a temporary drop in performance.
Example: I was driving down the street, on 14th February, 2024. I received a WhatsApp message that required an urgent reply. So I was handling my car with one hand, and at the same time replying my message. The next thing I noticed was my car hitting a pole, off the main road.
The negative effect of multitasking is real, but it’s particularly problematic because people don’t realize these negative effects are happening. Interruptions and doing many things at once generally make us less productive.
The advice is simple: when doing something that requires thinking, don’t do anything else.