The OPEX Tools Series | #15 - How to Stop Multitasking and Get Real Work Done
Focus is Your Superpower. Let OPEX Unlock It.
Welcome to the unique weekly article for the Paid subscribers-only edition.
This is the #15 article of The OPEX Tools Series.
Outlines and Key Takeaways
The Hidden Cost of Multitasking
Why Focused Work Wins
OPEX Tool: Visual Management
Action Step: Run a 25-Minute Focus Sprint
Final Thought: Time Isn’t Just Money—It’s Momentum
In today’s workplace, multitasking is often worn as a badge of productivity. But research in neuroscience and behavioral economics has repeatedly shown that it’s one of the fastest ways to lose time, make mistakes, and underperform. Operationally excellent professionals understand this and adopt focused work habits that prioritize quality over quantity.
The Hidden Cost of Multitasking
Multitasking has long been viewed as a hallmark of modern efficiency—proof that we’re keeping up in a world of constant inputs. But in reality, multitasking is a productivity myth that comes at a high price. The latest neuroscience and organizational research shows that juggling tasks not only slows us down—it reduces work quality, increases stress, and may even alter the brain’s structure over time.
Here are four key reasons why multitasking undermines your performance—and why focused, single-task work should be your default strategy.
1. Multitasking Reduces Productivity by Up to 40%
While it may feel like you're getting more done by jumping between emails, reports, and meetings, your brain disagrees. Cognitive science shows that the brain doesn’t actually perform tasks simultaneously—it switches back and forth between them. Each switch drains attention and working memory.
According to research from the University of Florida, task-switching can reduce productivity by as much as 40%, primarily due to the mental friction created during each shift. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Sussex found that frequent multitaskers show decreased cognitive control and increased mental fatigue, even when they believe they are managing efficiently.