Generally, multi-tasking has been shown not to work because
in fact we don’t do several things at once, we just cycle back and forth
between them. This is why people who are walking down the street and trying to
text at the same time don’t do either one well.
However, there is one time that I have found this
alternating useful, and that’s when I’m brainstorming. When the flow stops, sometimes
it helps to also have my email window open and take care of a couple of emails
and then return to the task. It doesn’t always work but often this frequent switch
to thinking of something different means that when I return to brainstorming I quickly have
fresh ideas.
Some people to whom I’ve suggested this said it works for
them, too, others say it drives them crazy. The only way to find out is to try
it!
