Winning at Work: Does Multitasking Improve My Effectiveness?

Multitasking with technology is the norm for college students, even though one study found that the majority of students felt that multitasking and studying was a poor strategy. Studies on the impact of multitasking at work show that it is associated with lower efficiency. Researchers best estimate is that only 2.5 percent of people can effectively multitask, although many people think they can. To stop multitasking, you must make a real commitment because electronic devices are addictive. You should establish daily times to disconnect from electronic media to give your brain a rest, and dont consider time spent alone thinking as wasted time. Practice mindfulness to fight off the urge to multitask; don't use your devices within 60 minutes of going to sleep; and dont text and drive. Finally, establish boundaries about using devices in team meetings and while studying.

What could you do if you were in the middle of a challenging project and one of your co-workers asks you to immediately address something else?