In today's world, it seems that the only way to be successful is to multitask. But science has shown that it's a terrible idea for being efficient.  If you are looking for a way to be more efficient at work, you should consider saying no to multitasking. Multitasking is actually one of the biggest time wasters in the workplace.

People often think that doing two things at once is efficient. Whether you’re studying, at work or trying to manage your children and their needs, people will tell you to just “do more things at once” so you can get them done faster.

Sadly, this is actually a myth and multitasking isn’t actually efficient at all. In fact, it could be detrimental to what you want to do and you may find yourself struggling to cope with your tasks if you take on too much at the same time.

Switching tasks is inefficient

The main problem lies in how our brains work. When we’re doing the same task for a long period of time, our brains automatically shift into a mode that is suitable for our needs. For instance, if our brains are focused on calculations and mathematical equations, then it’s going to take time to adjust from that to dealing with literature and creative design. If you’re constantly trying to switch between two entirely different subjects, your brain is going to become fatigued more quickly and you’ll find yourself burnt out.

The proper way to be efficient

It’s far better to focus on completing a single task quickly and also grouping tasks so that your brain has an easier time focusing on similar or related subjects. For example, if you’re doing your accounting, then you may want to group together budgeting related tasks as well to do them more efficiently at the same time.