Multitasking
Q: Why can’t I multitask as well as I did when I was a little younger?
A: Multitasking, which was simply called “being very busy” not long ago, is, unfortunately, one of the abilities that tends to diminish with age. The simplest explanation is that older brains often take longer to refocus after an interruption or after being occupied with another task. An interesting study from several years ago compared how older and younger adults handled certain multitasking challenges. Researchers found that when the brain was tasked with remembering something but was quickly asked to make a decision about an unrelated topic, the “memory maintenance” function of the brain paused until the decision was made. Then the brain could switch its focus back to remembering or contemplating the previous subject. Not surprisingly, researchers found that younger adults could manage the switching process more smoothly than older adults, who had more trouble shutting off the decision-making activity in the brain and restarting the memory maintenance network. One thing to keep in mind is that multitasking is something of a misnomer. While you might be able to talk on the phone while making dinner, there are obviously limits to how many different things you can do at once. Multitasking is really another word for moving from one task to another (and often back again) quickly. It’s not always efficient and is often the source of increased stress. Instead, just try to relax and focus on what’s in front of you in the moment.
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