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There’s a trend by productivity gurus of saying that “multitasking is impossible”. Not only is this not true, but the idea of focusing your attention on one task at a time might be considered ableist. 

I think the idea that it’s impossible to multitask was prompted by a 2012 study where people tried to solve a Sudoku puzzle while simultaneously solving a word search, or at least that’s what a study called “Multitasking” would imply. In actuality the study did not test multitasking, but instead tested the participants’ abilities to “task switch”, or go back and forth between the two puzzles. Merriam-Webster defines multitasking as either “the concurrent performance of several jobs by a computer” or “the performance of multiple tasks at one time”. 

Now, obviously we can’t solve Sudokus and word searches concurrently, but we multitask constantly. Swallowing and breathing are impossible to do at the same time, but we can read a book while working out on an exercise bike, and that’s a way to make at least one of those tasks more enjoyable for some people. 

A phrase my dad used to say when he wanted to imply that someone was incompetent was “I bet he can’t walk and chew gum at the same time!” Some people are better at multitasking than others, and for many, particularly those with ADHD, having a task to do cuts down on distracting brain chatter, and can ultimately lead to more productivity. 

Here are some things that I actually did this week that can be considered multitasking, according to Merriam-Webster.

-Listened to an audiobook while cleaning my hydroponic grow kit;

-Drank coffee while scrolling through Instagram

-Walked on a treadmill while singing karaoke 

-Trained my core stability (by sitting on a fit ball) while writing this blog post. 

So what the “don’t multitask” gurus actually mean to say is that switching back and forth between multiple tasks is less productive than working on each one separately. I think it’s important to clarify that their use of the term “multitask” is unconventional. So for all of the creatives out there who want to increase your productivity, know that you don’t need to force yourself to pay attention to a How-To video without doodling at the same time, or write your short story without listening to music. And if you are someone who gives productivity advice, be aware that telling someone not to multitask might even be triggering for someone with ADHD, who has likely spent many years unlearning the bad advice given to them by neurotypical authorities.  

Thanks for reading!

Rebecca H. Lee
Audiobook Narrator

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