Humans and multitasking - How much can we do simultaneously? | DW Documentary

I'm lawyer. If I need to work on a client's case, my concentration must be total because I value my work and respect the needs of those who hire me. If I am preparing my food, a distraction can result in a shit meal. For me, it's possible to watch Netflix series on TV and use my smartphone to chat or watch the news, because in both cases the concentration doesn't need to be great. The secret is to learn to make a clear distinction between what deserves more attention and what is not very important. Self-discipline is key. If I'm reading a book, I don't even touch my smartphone. No app on it makes sound or vibrates.

Ah yes, nothing like half-watching a video on multitasking while also trying to multitask with doing my work

DW has been my favorite channel since childhood. The way DW fearlessly present science backed news is an example to all news media in the world. Even touching topics that are sensitive in a delicate scientific manner. The world needs to learn from DW. I have so much respect. Hats off to people and culture at DW!

This video explains in so many different ways why we should focus on one thing at a time. Very informative!

It’s called, “Switchtasking.” Look for the book: Multitasking is a Myth…

The 'language and music' example was spectacular as well as relevant to the language learners like me. To put it in context, Now I have understood why I was unable to learn vocabulary when I would do a full time messy job with unpredictable deadlines like the doctors and nurses. Thank you DW for covering this topic . Much love from Bangladesh

This is an important topic for society. People driving while making TikTok videos, families paying more attention to their phones than themselves or talking to someone while their head is buried in their phones. Not good.. 😔

“Multitasking” is a very convenient euphemism for expecting ONE person do jobs of many people. And with technology multitasking has gotten DENSER, while people have become more depressed and angry and exhausted.

Thanks for driving our attention to effective performance rather than multitasking.

Good documentary. About Mindfulness: Let's fix work, so that workers don't need fixing themselves with meditation. Mindfulness is not a tool to increase productivity 😉

Thanks for this wonderful and informative video, I am currently working as a Front Desk Agent in the most famous Hotel in Singapore . I relate to this video on so many levels . There is so much task to do behind the scenes while using the system, on top of that we have to manage guest experience ( Obviously listening and chatting with guest but also getting my fingers to move on the computer at the same time ) the amount of stress is overwhelming even though I have all the tools needed in front of me , the challenge now is we do not have the luxury of time to complete the many task on hand and we are fighting against time while dealing with human emotions . I feel like my job loses its value to provide excellent service as most of the time we are so fixated on just getting the things done in front of us. Consumers are also more demanding and less impatient too in this time and age . Anyway love your videos DW documentary , sending love from Singapore ,cheers !! ❤❤

My daily routine is to watch DW documentary while I’m eating and doing homework

Beautiful documentary. Insightful findings with good tips.

I have always found the multitasking brains of conference interpreters and war plane pilots very astonishing.

Technically, the brain can only focus on one thing at a time even if you're switching between 2 tasks every 5 seconds.

An excellent documentary with such a lucid comprehension of trade-offs against the limited cognitive capability spread over the stimulus with the productivity in question. 👌✌👍

An Excellent documentary by DW.

More than half my work day was filled with interruptions. The "Now where was I"? happens continuously. It is a wonder I got anything done at all.

This is a thought-provoking documentary that delves into the impact of multitasking on our brains and lives. It's true that many of us juggle various tasks simultaneously, from work to personal life. However, as the documentary reveals, our brains aren't naturally wired for this. Multitasking can lead to stress and even damage to our brains. Interestingly, it can also affect the economy negatively. This raises important questions about how we balance our tasks and whether there's a better way. An eye-opening exploration!

Topical Documentary with actionables to round off. Great stuff DW !! Now we also know that Captain Hastings went off to Zurich Uni after Poirot vanished.