Skip to main contentA logo with &quat;the muse&quat; in dark blue text.
Advice / Succeeding at Work / Management

The Surprisingly High Cost of Multitasking

Multitasking seems like such a great way to get so much done in so little time. Who wouldn’t want to knock out some emails, have lunch, and listen in on a phone conference all at the same time? Sure, researchers have debated the effectiveness of doing multiple things at once, but being a pro multitasker still seems like a dream come true.

But wait—did you know that multitasking actually costs the economy $450 million per year? Turns out, the lack of focus and higher likelihood of making mistakes when multitasking is not only ineffective and unproductive, but actually IQ-reducing.

So what’s the best way to combat multitasking? Luckily, there’s one thing you can do to dramatically decrease your tendency to juggle multiple balls at once, particularly in meetings. Take a look at the infographic below to see how you can help your team be more productive and effective than ever.


Infographic courtesy of FuzeBox. Photo of person multitasking courtesy of Shutterstock.