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15 December 2023

Multi-tasking can hold you back – see how you can stop

We get it – the end of the year is a busy time and, combined with accruing assignments, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed and wondering how you’ll get everything done on time.

Whatever you plan to do, resist the urge to work on multiple assignments at once! Why? It’s well established that this approach can actually make things harder. While many people believe that multi-tasking helps you to get more done, the human brain can’t do two things at once – it can only switch between the two as quickly as possible.

Dr Gillian Clark from Deakin’s School of Psychology says trying to do more means you actually do less.

We make mistakes and take longer to complete tasks when we try to do multiple things at once.

Research backs this up – students who use their smartphone or watch TV while studying or listening to lectures tend to have get less done, retain less information and achieve lower marks than students who don’t multi-task.

How to study efficiently

The most effective strategy is to simply focus on one thing at a time.

‘Avoid distractions and interruptions – close your email, don’t answer your phone and make it clear you’re not to be disturbed,’ Dr Clark says. ‘Allocate blocks of time for each task and ensure you focus only on the assigned task during the allotted time.’ You can find a Pomodoro Timer in the DeakinWELLBEING app.

If there are simple tasks that can be automated through practice, you might be able to complete two tasks at the same time. For anything challenging, new or varied, however, ‘allocate as much of your attention to one task at a time as you can,’ says Dr Clark.

Feeling stressed? Try these tips

While stress is a normal part of managing competing demands, if your study load is making you feel out of control, try these tips to de-stress.

Ask for help

If you start to feel overwhelmed, the below services are free and available to all Deakin students:

Edited version of an article originally published in this.



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