Do you multitask? Think again

Who do think is better at multitasking? Men or women? Think for a minute...
Think...
Think...
Think...
Think...
Think...

Done?

Whatever your answer is, chances are that you're wrong.

Researchers have shown that our brains (men's as well as women's) cannot multitask. Period. What our brain does, when we 'believe' that we are multitasking, is switching between tasks at an amazing speed. Just like a single core processor in a computer. It cannot multitask. It manages multiple tasks by switching between them. While, it may be efficient for a processor to do it that way, our brain doesn't take too kindly to this.

Researchers at Stanford have shown that doing multiple tasks at the same time actually decreases productivity, because our brain cannot ignore irrelevant information while switching between multiple tasks. You might feel that you're being more productive by 'multitasking', but it's a myth.

There is also switching cost involved during 'multitasking'. Every time the brain moves from one task to the other, it takes extra energy and mental bandwidth to do so - the energy that could have been used to perform the task instead.  In addition, there's a residue of the previous task that lingers on for sometime before the brain can completely focus on the new task. It takes four times more time to recognize new things, hence by the time the brain settles down into the new task, lot of energy and time is already lost.

It maybe argued that we are actually multitasking when we drive and talk at the same time, or when we walk and talk at the same time, etc. But in these cases, the act of driving or walking or playing an instrument, is because of our muscle memory. When you first try to play an instrument, you have to concentrate hard on playing it because your brain is using all it's power to play the right notes. You cannot have a meaningful conversation at that time. However, when you learn the instrument, your brain doesn't come into picture when you play - it's all muscle memory. Same is with walking or driving. So, in a way, yes you do multi task when you are doing something along with muscle memory action. But that's about it. That's not the same as 'multitasking' the way this term is normally used.

At work, you are expected to do a lot of tasks and all tasks are important (sigh). You are also expected to 'multitask'. But, now that you know that your brain cannot do it, what do you do? Prioritize! Prioritize and work in such a way that you give substantial amount of time to one task before moving on to the next one. This way, you use your brain's full power for that time and are able to do a better job of the task at hand till you reach a logical break point. You can then decide to start with another task that also needs to be taken care of. That way, you are still 'multitasking' but are being more productive.

So, the next time your boss tells you to multitask - ask him/her to read this article! :)

Dealing with Anxiety disorder

Anxiety is probably one of the worst mental conditions to have. Only those suffering from it can truly understand the pain. While almost all of us have experienced being nervous at some point in our lives, it is not the same as suffering from chronic anxiety. It is a mental state that emanates from some negative experiences or some kind of mental trauma in the past. There probably are genetic reasons for it as well, but that's for medical professionals to decide.

Some of key symptoms (www.themindsjournal.com - Ethan Ray) that says you are suffering from chronic anxiety disorder are -

1. You are always imagining the worst possible outcome of any situation - and you keep thinking about it
2. You avoid meeting people or going out for the fear of getting judged - for your appearance, for your personality, for anything
3. You are constantly scared that people will find out that you have anxiety issues
4. You make fewer friends to keep avoid getting anxious (more friends means more interactions - leading to more chances of getting anxious)
5. You over-analyze everything
6. You dread the future rather than look forward to it
7. You replay past conversations or actions again and again
8. You always think it's your fault
9. You keep comparing yourself with others - and assume you're not good enough
10. You strive to be a perfectionist - that's your way of ensuring no one blames you for any missing detail
11. You get irritated very easily when things don't go according to your plan
12. You feel like the walls are closing in on you and you have this dire need to find a way out

One of the key things about anxiety is that it does not stem from worrying about the future, it stems from trying to control the future. Being in control and on top of the situation is what causes us to be anxious. It probably is how our reactions to a threat have developed over the past thousands of years - the fight or flight reaction. It is about being able to know for sure how to overcome a (supposedly threatening) situation or to know how to escape it. Most of the symptoms of chronic anxiety are the "flight" reactions to a situation. The problem is that, for a person with anxiety disorder, almost all situations including the normal ones appear threatening. That's how this is different from usual nervousness or fear. And the most scary of all the symptoms occurs when you have an anxiety attack - when there's difficulty breathing, you start hyperventilating, head becomes light and you feel like you are having a heart attack - you just want to tear away the space around you and stick your neck out so you can breathe. It lasts a few seconds - most certainly less than a minute - but it could be very scary.

While chronic anxiety may need medical help as well, there are some things that certainly help in controlling the situation especially when there is a panic or an anxiety attack.

1. Change your physical position - If you are standing when you have an attack, start moving around a bit while trying to control your breathing and bringing it back to normal. If you were moving, sit down. If you were sitting, stand up. A conscious change in position brings your mind back to the present and distracts you a little from what you are feeling
2. Control your breathing - Do yoga regularly and learn pranayam. That helps in managing and controlling your breathing. When an attack occurs, breathing becomes very abnormal. That's when a control on it is needed. Try to breathe normally and slowly, it will automatically start bringing your heart rate to normal
3. Tell yourself that all's well - This might sound silly but during an attack, just tell yourself that nothing's wrong and that all's well. You probably have had an attack before and you probably will have it in future as well. But you have survived them in the past and you will survive them in future as well. So tell yourself that it's all well and you're not having a heart attack. You will survive these few seconds of terror
4. Be in the here and now - This is something that is needed to be done all the time, not just during the attack. Whenever faced with extreme stress or anxiety, open your eyes wide and look at what is around you. Bring your mind back to what is right there in front of you and to that moment in time where you are at the moment. Just concentrate on and observe what is in front of you. It will automatically remove all the thoughts from your mind and reduce the stress and anxiety

Dealing with anxiety yourself can be tough, but dealing with someone who has anxiety issues can be even tougher because you can never know what that person is going through. Anxiety issues can appear so irrational sometimes that you may not understand how to react or how to help that person. If you happen to know someone who has such issues, the best way to help that person is to be yourself and be normal with that person. Even if they experience an anxiety attack while with you, you only need to be there for them and play it by the ear. You don't need to say anything or do anything. Just let them know that you are there.

And whether or not you're facing chronic anxiety, the one mantra that you should always remember and practice for a stressfree life is - Here and Now!