The weal and woe of multitasking

Multitasking seems to be an inescapable route in the age of the internet, all-nighters and endless procrastination sessions. Like everything else, this doesn't come without pros and cons. You might want to recall some of these pointers the next time you choose to keep 14 tabs open at once.

If you can effectively manage time, understand your priorities right while making tradeoffs, compartmentalise your brain while working on something with pristine focus, you may be a good fit for multitasking. Make sure you are on the right track every time you're working on multiple things at once. This will help avoid boredom issuing from one single work, and of course will help you optimise the time needed to get done with all tasks at hand.

In talking about the pitfalls of multitasking, one very likely scenario is if you try to focus on totally unrelated things at the same time. For example, you may want to keep tasks you need to use the laptop for separate from the tasks you're supposed to be doing practically or physically. For example, answering voice mails while trying to solve a math problem will be very counterproductive. Additionally, the stress from one work may unnecessarily mess up some other very easy task you were doing at the same time, thus jeopardising both.

So while on one hand multitasking helps you get the work done in the least possible time while trying to meet multiple deadlines, it also adds unnecessary stress to your life, something that could easily be avoided had you not procrastinated till the very last moment. It is up to you to find the balance that works for you and get on board!

Eshanee is currently completing her BBA from IBA, DU. Reach her at eshanee333@gmail.com.