Doing more than one thing at a time

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How easily can you do this?

It depends what you mean, and what it is. Some things I will actually do automatically even while doing something else, like my left hand could put away my credit card, while my right picks things up to leave, etc.... THAT is neat!

I guess we can all do more than one thing at a time (such as thinking and breathing) with instinct or experience. But how easy or difficult do you find it to reach that level of mastery?

Doing more than one thing at once (eg. watching TV and eating) is very hard for me.

I suck at mult-tasking. I can drive that's about it.

I was wondering if this was something a lot of us had in common because with me co-ordination, listening, and social interaction all seem to run into this difficulty.

For example I don't like having a solution to a maths problem explained to me through talking because I can't process what someone is saying and imagine the implications at the same time. In my maths lectures I usually come out not really knowing much of what has been said, but with everything that had been written on the board copied out on a page in front of me to read later. I usually can't think about how to respond to someone until after I have finished listening to what they have to say. I can move while holding onto someone and move to a rhythm but not both at once (which is why I never got the hang of dancing with more than one person).

My math comprehension works the same way. Class is only useful for watching the teacher perform the steps. I catch the names of the steps and get nice clues and shortcuts. I just get confused listening to someone explain verbally. Just show me the problem and it makes sense.

I have a lot of problems with multi-tasking. I have trouble juggling my thoughts, switching gears back & forth between tasks. I have the most trouble with trying to listen to one person if there is any background noise, especially other conversations going on. I can do it, but with some difficulties as well as discomfort.

The teachers use to get real frustrated because I didnt pay attention and they new I had the ability to do the work but all through school all I evr heard the Teachers voice goin 'bla bla bla and if that bla bla and why = bla bla bla.
I tried my best to tune in to what they sayin eventually I just told em to f**k off and spent most time in in school detention or sent home with suspension n the school made sure discipline was being implemented at home. I HATE SCHOOL

I can do one thing at a time very well.

I think multi-tasking is an odd concept because I don't see how you can ever do two different things well unless you have some sort of brain damage. I think its a concept introduced to legitimise sloppy work and short-attention spans. I don't see why doing two things at once is worse than doing one thing very well and not making mistakes. I'm confused at a lot of the ideas that come out of business and multi-tasking is one of the most confusing and repugnant ideas I know. Also aren't women supposed to be better at this than men? I don't believe that either.

I can't really listen and write at the same time. But I don't need too because I listen so well that I remember things very well. I usually write down important points or ideas after listening is concluded.

I don't have ADHD so my attention span is very good and I can usually focus for hours without a break. I know some people have problems with attention so appear less intelligent.

This echoes my sentiment.

in a way,everyone can do more than one thing at time [what about breathing and thinking] so in that way,are all multitaskers.

am cannot do most things if they require more than one step,am instantly lose understanding and get overloaded,it was one of the reasons am couldnt learn BSL,even after years of trying because of the amount of steps the signs need,but was able to learn makaton eventually because it's mostly one step per sign/action.
it affects everything in life,but when am get the right support it doesnt really matter.
problem is,people always assume are well able to do everything if can work a computer,ignorants use it as a diagnosis tool,and if happen to be able to use a computer,are just being lazy or task avoidant.

I have a lot of trouble multi-tasking. I have trouble trying to get my thoughts under control while I am doing my schoolwork, ya know?

What you say is correct, the human brain can multi-task and does a number of different tasks independently and automatically. Most people do not have to remember to breath as it is not a conscious activity.

I was talking about conscious multi-tasking which does not make sense to me.

If I try to play golf and football at the same time, I will be much worse than a person who is only playing golf or only playing football. I breath while doing these things because breathing unconscious and automatic.

People who judge others to be stupid are usually idiots themselves. People learn in different ways and at different paces. This has nothing to do with worth or value and everything to do with personality and brain type.

sorry corroonb,am understand what mean now-single tasking makes a lot more sense,better dedicated effort on a single task should win over rushed,not perfect multi tasks,what is there not to like about single tasking? non multi taskers shouldnt be seen as weak,they're the ones who could be doing the better job.



auditory processing/filtering problems can probably be blamed for some of that.

I sometimes find myself that I can't just do one thing at a time - I've seen myself watching TV, knitting, using the laptop, and drinking coffee at the same time (okay, if you wanna get technical the knitting is in my lap when I'm holding the coffee, but you get my drift). Quite often I have my Nintendo DS going at the same time as using the laptop. Even when I'm online, I usually have three or four windows open looking at unrelated things.

TV's just not enough of a distraction for me, I need something else to do to hold my attention to it, whether it's knitting or ironing or what. I can hardly ever just watch TV until I'm really relaxed and/or tired.

Funnily enough, the thing that I can't do is listen to music and write at the same time - I always end up writing down song lyrics by mistake! And I tend to watch TV with subs on where possible. *shrug*