{
  "id": 13406158,
  "title": "The multitasking trap: Why doing more at once can mean getting less done",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/the-multitasking-trap-why-doing-more-at-once-can-mean-getting-less",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-10T12:30:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/the-multitasking-trap-why-doing-more-at-once-can-mean-getting-less-done-10891977/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The modern world often encourages the practice of doing multiple tasks simultaneously, a phenomenon coined as \"toxic multitasking.\" Prerna Pant, a psychologist from ISIC Multispeciality Hospital in Delhi, explains that this constant switching between tasks, emails, messages, social media, and notifications can lead to decreased productivity. Unlike occasional multitasking, toxic multitasking involves a repetitive pattern of attention being drawn to different activities throughout the day.\n\nThis habit can create an illusion of productivity, but in reality, it can have detrimental effects on concentration and mental fatigue. Every time a person shifts focus from one task to another, their brain has to stop, reset, and refocus, consuming mental energy in the process. Frequent interruptions from emails, messages, and notifications can make work feel more exhausting than it appears, leading to reduced concentration and a sense of being overwhelmed.\n\nToxic multitasking can also impact memory and productivity. When the brain is divided between tasks, it struggles to process information effectively, making it easier to forget details, miss important information, or make mistakes. This constant switching can slow down performance and increase the time needed to complete tasks, despite the illusion of being busy.\n\nRecognizing the signs of toxic multitasking is crucial. Indications may include increased mistakes, forgetfulness, unfinished tasks, mental fatigue, and a sense of being constantly busy without making progress. Poor sleep, reduced motivation, and a persistent feeling of being busy without achieving anything can also signal the presence of this habit.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Toxic multitasking refers to repetitive pattern of attention shifting throughout the day.",
    "Constant switching between tasks leads to decreased productivity and mental fatigue.",
    "Indications of toxic multitasking include increased mistakes, forgetfulness, and poor sleep."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - Lifestyle",
        "title": "The multitasking trap: Why doing more at once can mean getting less done",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/the-multitasking-trap-why-doing-more-at-once-can-mean-getting-less-13415484",
        "published": "2026-10-10T12:30:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}