music, and watching television while trying to do homework. Kids tend to pay partial attention to multiple things at once, a.k.a. multitask, which isn’t necessarily a good thing; when paying partial attention to something, it is less likely to achieve a deep focus on one particular thing. The brain can’t be in two places at once, it can only switch attention from one thing to another. Therefore, it takes people longer to multitask then it does to complete tasks one at a time, for example, trying to make multiple decisions can cause a bottleneck which can make it take longer for you to complete the tasks. Studies have been conducted to compare how multitaskers and non-multitaskers do on memory and attention tests. One study compared the scores of people who waited to text while learning and those who didn’t wait. The results showed that the people who waited to text had better scores than those who didn’t. An example of this is the marshmallow test, a test where preschoolers were given the choice to eat a marshmallow now or wait. They were left alone in a room for 15 minutes and if they didn’t eat the marshmallow, they were given a second one. The results showed that almost every child under the age of 4 ate the marshmallow right away and didn’t wait. Following these children up to adulthood, you can see that most of the kids who waited for the second marshmallow can exercise control better and have been more successful compared to the kids with no self-control. Obviously you can’t just remove technology and distractions out of everyday life; the best thing to do would be to learn self-control and know when the best time is to clear your way of distractions.

        I think of myself as a multitasker, and I always have. I always liked to think that I was multitasking because I am always doing two things at once. When I multitask, I’m usually watching television while doing another task; sometimes it is homework, other times it is cooking or knitting. It seems like a day never goes by without some sort of distraction from what I am doing. Even though that is the case, I never really become overwhelmed, and I complete tasks in a timely matter for the most part. I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that multitasking is not beneficial. It does not feel like I am switching my attention from one thing to another, for it always feels like I am doing two things at once. It also does not feel like I am getting tasks done at a slower rate while working on two things at once. Whenever I work on things at separate times and with my full attention, I feel like time goes by quickly, but I achieve no progress. However, when I work on two things at once, I feel like I finish it faster than I would have if I was working on them separately. Now that I know that multitasking is not beneficial, my thoughts on the subject have changed, and I plan to complete projects individually instead of two at a time.

        In the article Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix Explanation, by Steve Mueller, the time management matrix is explained. The time management matrix was created to help people with their time management skills, and it is divided into four quadrants. The first quadrant, important and urgent, includes items and responsibilities that need immediate attention. Things such as important deadlines and emergencies are placed in this quadrant. Quadrant two, not urgent but important, includes items and responsibilities that are important but do not require immediate attention; this quadrant is of the greatest importance in the long run. Quadrant three, urgent but not important, is reserved for tasks that are urgent without being important; these activities are usually obstacles standing in the way of one’s goals. It is best to avoid being constantly interrupted by these activities. Quadrant four, not urgent and not important, includes tasks and responsibilities with no value. These things waste times and must be avoided as much as possible; all items on this list should be eliminated, regardless of how fun they are. The objective of the matrix is to question whether a certain activity brings you closer to your goals or not; if an activity doesn’t do this, then do not pursue it. It is best to delay any activities that do not contribute any significant output until all important tasks are finished. Using the time management matrix is supposed to help reprioritize any current or upcoming tasks in relation to any important life goals.              

         I use Steven Covey’s four quadrant matrix to figure out the most important tasks to do and which ones I can eliminate completely. Since this matrix is such a convenient way to help sort out the important tasks from the unimportant, I can begin to clear a path towards my goals and avoid distractions and activities that will waste my time. I can be disorganized and distracted, especially when I have approaching deadlines. This matrix helps me organize my schedule and tasks, so I can finish them without stressing and scrambling to finish everything right before the deadline. I use some online sources to manage my tasks and time as well; another big help is my use of a planner. All of these sources help me organize and set aside time to finish any tasks I have to do.

         Although many people will continue to “multitask” throughout their lives, it is important to learn about the many different tools available to stop this from happening. Multitasking is just switching attention from one task or activity to another, and it can lead to confusing decision making. One must focus solely on one task at a time to finish it in a timely fashion and help with one’s memory. It is best for someone to organize their time and tasks to achieve the best possible outcomes and obtain more free time; utilizing resources to help with this is one of the most beneficial methods of accomplishing tasks.