The hazards of multitasking

No one loves modern technology and flexible working more than we do. It helps us limit our environmental impact by saving on travel. It allows us to reach larger audiences in our mahi. It allows me to easily connect with friends and whānau who live in other hemispheres.  

And, the reality is that remote and hybrid work means far more multitasking.  

And, multitasking is a problem.  

We are asked to multitask all the time. Our modern lives are built around the reality that our attention is often required in two, three, eight places. This is especially true when we’re engaged in hybrid and remote work.  

Picture this. You’re on a Teams hui, and  

• your notifications for emails, texts, and more are buzzing and  

• you’re thinking of what you’ll make for dinner and 

• you’re half listening but also typing away on that report that is due this arvo and 

• your child is texting you because he forgot his wallet and needs to catch the bus to school. Right now.  

  
  

And this is on a relatively chill, normal day. 

The Resilience Institute releases its Global Report at the end of every calendar year. This report helps us understand what helps people thrive, and the current challenges many of us face when we think about our wellness and ability to be our best.  

A big focus for the 2025 report is the hazards of multitasking. Consider some of their findings: 

1. Digital workers switch between tools and contexts up to 1200 times per day, and during core hours are interrupted every two minutes by meetings, email, or messaging alerts. 

2. Constant switching creates ‘attention residue,’ where fragments of the previous task linger in mind, slowing reaction time and reducing accuracy. 

3. The constant flow of notifications creates ‘notification fatigue,’ making it harder to focus and creating mental strain. 

4. Each switch forces the brain to reset, slowing progress, increasing mistakes, and eroding learning. Over time, it drives stress and contributes directly to overload. 

Bottom line: remote and hybrid work, while amazing, means we are especially exposed to challenges to our focus, quality of work, and our own wellbeing.  

So what can we do? 

The Resilience Institute offers the following ideas to combat multitasking behaviours and the resultant burnout: 

• Clock focused work sessions of 60-90 minutes. 

• Silence no-urgent notifications. 

• Set clear “monotask” team norms. 

All of these ideas are simple. None of these ideas are easy.  

I recently completely ignored my inbox for a few hours to get a project done. I will admit it was hard, and I felt like I was going to miss something important. 

You know what happened? 

I did not miss anything. But I did get the project done. And done well.  

That experience was a big reminder for me that focus is not a nice-to-have. Or, that I am somehow incapable of getting real work done in a modern setting with a million distractions.  

Focus is a capability we need to actively protect, especially when we are working with technology. Choosing to monotask can feel uncomfortable, especially if our workplaces or team culture rewards constant availability. But protecting your focus is one of the most practical things we can do to improve the quality of our work, our thinking, and our wellbeing.  

Remote and hybrid work aren’t the problem; unmanaged attention is. And we can do something about it – even if it’s challenging.