Many students try to do more than one thing at once—like watching a video while studying or answering texts during homework. It can feel like a way to save time or stay connected while working. But doing multiple things at once doesn't actually improve productivity.
Instead, it often leads to mistakes, slower progress, and poor memory of what was just learned. This is especially true when the tasks involve learning, reading, or solving problems.
Understanding what multitasking really means and how it affects the brain can help make sense of why learning feels harder when switching between tasks.
Multitasking isn't actually doing two tasks at the same time. It's switching back and forth between tasks very quickly. This switching takes mental effort every time the brain moves from one task to another.
According to cognitive load theory, the brain has a limited amount of mental energy for processing new information. When students multitask, attention is split between tasks, making it harder to focus deeply on any single one.
Research from Stanford University found that students who frequently multitask perform worse on tests of memory and attention. Other studies show that students using digital devices while studying scored lower on exams than those who didn't.
Effects on academic performance:
When the brain switches tasks often, it has less time to transfer what it learns into long-term memory. Without this transfer, information is quickly forgotten—explaining why students may study for hours while multitasking but still forget the material during a test.
When you try to multitask, your brain doesn't actually process both tasks simultaneously. Instead, it rapidly switches attention between them. Each switch requires your brain to pause one task and start another, using significant mental resources.
This switching creates what scientists call "attention residue"—when part of your brain is still thinking about the previous task even after moving to a new one. This leftover attention reduces mental clarity and slows down how quickly you can fully engage with the next task.
The prefrontal cortex, which handles decision-making and attention management, becomes overloaded during multitasking. Studies show this area works less efficiently when switching tasks compared to focusing on one task at a time.
Each time your brain switches tasks, it takes anywhere from 15 seconds to several minutes to fully refocus. During this transition time, you're more likely to make mistakes and less likely to retain information.
Multitasking isn't always obvious. It often happens in small, almost invisible ways during study time that can significantly impact learning without students realizing it.
Background media: Music, TV shows, or podcasts playing while studying divide attention, especially when they contain lyrics or dialogue that compete with reading material.
Environmental distractions: Studying in busy locations like cafés or shared living spaces introduces constant small interruptions from conversations, movement, and background noise.
Digital notifications: Even when not actively checking social media, notifications create micro-interruptions that break concentration. Research shows the average teen checks their phone about 100 times daily—often during study sessions.
Mental multitasking: Planning other activities, worrying about deadlines, or thinking about social events while studying takes up valuable mental space needed for learning.
These hidden forms of multitasking might seem harmless, but they all divide attention and reduce how much information students can process and remember.
The first step to fixing multitasking is recognizing your personal distraction patterns. Keep a simple log for a few days noting when you lose focus and what caused it.
Common distraction triggers:
Once you identify your specific triggers, you can create targeted strategies to address them instead of using generic solutions that might not work for your situation.
Digital overload is one of the biggest causes of multitasking for students. Setting clear boundaries with technology can dramatically improve focus.
Try these specific approaches:
Tools like Freedom or Beforefive can automatically block distracting websites during scheduled focus periods, removing the temptation to check social media or other unrelated sites.
Time blocking means assigning specific time periods to specific tasks—with no overlap. This technique prevents the constant switching that defines multitasking.
A simple time-blocked schedule might look like:
The key is to work on only one subject during each block and take short breaks between blocks to reset your brain.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that uses a timer to break work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break.
This technique works well because it matches how our brains naturally focus. Most people can maintain deep concentration for about 25-45 minutes before needing a mental reset.
To use this technique:
This structured approach helps train your brain to focus deeply for short periods while preventing burnout from extended concentration.
Your physical environment significantly impacts your ability to focus on one task at a time.
Elements of a distraction-free study space:
Let others know when you're in a focus session by using a simple signal like wearing headphones or putting a "studying" sign on your door. This communicates that you shouldn't be interrupted except for emergencies.
Moving between tasks mindfully can reduce the mental confusion that comes with multitasking. Instead of jumping directly from one assignment to another, take a moment to mentally close one task before beginning the next.
A quick mindful transition might include:
These transitions help your brain fully switch contexts rather than trying to hold multiple tasks in mind simultaneously.
Ironically, the best way to handle multiple responsibilities isn't to multitask—it's to get better at focusing on one thing at a time. This skill is called monotasking.
If you're used to constantly switching between tasks, start with short periods of focused work to build your concentration muscles.
Begin with just 10 minutes of uninterrupted focus on a single task. Once that feels comfortable, gradually increase to 15, 20, and eventually 25-30 minute sessions.
Signs your focus is improving:
AI-powered focus tools like Beforefive can help train your brain to stay on task by intelligently blocking websites unrelated to your current assignment.
Unlike simple website blockers that use static lists, AI tools understand what you're working on and adapt accordingly. For example, if you're researching a history paper, the tool might allow access to educational sites while blocking social media and entertainment sites.
These tools provide immediate feedback when you try to visit distracting sites, helping you become more aware of your multitasking habits and gradually change them.
"Deep work" is a term coined by computer science professor Cal Newport to describe focused, uninterrupted work on challenging tasks. It's the opposite of the shallow, distracted work that happens during multitasking.
To practice deep work:
Like any skill, deep work gets easier with practice. The more you train your brain to focus deeply, the more natural it becomes to resist multitasking.
Taking the right kind of breaks is just as important as focused work time. Strategic breaks help your brain recover from mental effort and prepare for the next session of concentrated work.
Research from the University of Michigan found that nature breaks—even just looking at pictures of nature—can improve attention and performance on subsequent tasks. This happens because nature views require less directed attention than urban environments or digital content.
Effective vs. ineffective break activities:
Effective breaks:
Ineffective breaks:
A simple two-minute mindfulness exercise between tasks can also help clear mental clutter. Just close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and notice physical sensations without judgment. This brief reset helps your brain transition more effectively between tasks.
The research is clear: monotasking leads to better results in less time than multitasking does. Studies show that shifting between tasks can reduce productivity by up to 40% and lower the quality of work.
The most effective strategies for students to improve focus include:
By focusing on one thing at a time, students can learn more effectively, complete assignments more quickly, and reduce the stress that comes from constantly juggling multiple tasks.
Beforefive helps by asking what task you're working on and then blocking unrelated websites using AI. This approach makes it easier to stay focused on your current assignment without getting pulled into digital distractions.
Students with ADHD can benefit from more structured environments, body-doubling (studying with someone else present), and tools that limit distractions. AI tools like Beforefive can provide external structure by blocking irrelevant websites during focused work periods.
Short breaks actually improve concentration when taken after completing a task or time segment. They allow your brain to recover from mental effort, preventing fatigue. The key is taking breaks between tasks rather than interrupting a task midway.
Music with lyrics typically counts as multitasking since your brain processes the words while trying to study. Instrumental music at a low volume may be less disruptive, but complete silence is often best for complex learning tasks that require full attention.