Comments on: I’m Writing This Post While Watching TV

By: Louche

Louche — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:57:42 +0000

Yes, that is true. But most of us have also never even considered that there is a right way and a wrong way to multi-task. Most people don’t consciously think while typing their e-mail, “I’m going to productively multi-task by typing this e-mail while talking on the phone.” For the typical person, it is a kind of mindless “faster faster faster” attitude. Same thing can be said that there’s a right way and a wrong way to restrict your calorie intake. Most people or a huge portion of people in the U.S. do so the wrong way. That doesn’t reduce the value if seeking out the right way.

By: Brandon R Allen

Brandon R Allen — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:35:29 +0000

I get the right way to multitask argument all the time. You are absolutely right that there are certain activities where doing multiple tasks can work. Working out while listening to a podcast is a great example. The problem is that most of us don’t know where to draw the line. We spend a lot of time trying to do multiple things at the same time that keep us from doing a great job at any singular task. Examples like: typing e-mails while talking on the phone, texting at meetings or while you are having dinner with your family or having a conversation with your cube mate while you are trying to write a report.

By: Louche

Louche — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:29:51 +0000

I think there’s a right way and a wrong way to multi-task. Listening to a podcast while doing your daily stretches or workout or eating breakfast is not necessarily distracting (unless you’re trying to do workout meditation). It saves time. However, writing a paper while watching t.v. is not really a productive form of multi-tasking. Not the best example as I rarely consider t.v. a productive form of anything, but do you see my point? Frankly, walking down the street and talking at the same time could be called multi-tasking.