Every switch has a toll.
Switching between tasks costs time to reorient, and more so as the tasks get more complex. Part of your mind also stays behind on the last one.
Switch cost
Time To Reorient
“Right, where was I?”
- Reloading goals and rules
- Grows with task complexity
- Rubinstein, Meyer & Evans, 2001
Attention residue
Part Of You Stays Behind
“Still thinking about that call…”
- The last task lingers
- Worse when it's unfinished
- Sophie Leroy, 2009
Open loops
Half-Done Piles Up
“I'll finish it later.”
- Many things started
- Few things finished
- Each one takes mental space
Sources: American Psychological Association ↗ · RePEc/IDEAS ↗
Fewer switches. More finished.