Scientists have developed 3 brain tricks that will help you multitask.

Multitasking is a fact of life now. People do it because they think it is more productive to do many things at once. But neuroscience is showing us that a human brain cannot multitask at once. And it is so quick to switch from one task to the next.

Three important brain strategies can be used to deal with multiple responsibilities in a more efficient manner without overwhelming one's mind. These techniques can boost focus, decrease mental fatigue, and increase productivity.

1. Group similar tasks.

One of the most effective brain-friendly techniques is “task batching.” It has been found that the brain wastes energy every time it switches to an unrelated task. This is a “switching cost” that doesn’t help with concentration and leads to errors.

Instead of jumping between emails, reports, phone calls, and social media notifications, experts suggest grouping similar activities. So that you answer all emails in one period, phone calls in another, and get some time to work on creative or analytical tasks.

Task batching helps keep the brain in the same cognitive state for longer, and thus enables focus and makes work much faster and more accurate to do work.

2. Train your working memory.

Working memory is the brain’s temporary storage system. It helps people to keep information in mind while doing something else— remembering directions while driving or solving a math problem while listening to instructions.

Working memory is generally better for managing multiple responsibilities, studies show. Working memory is built up over time with regular mental practice.

Solving puzzles, playing strategy games, learning a new language, reading, or recalling memories all stimulate the brain and make it work better at processing information. Good sleep, proper physical activity, and a diet also support working memory and keep the brain healthy throughout the day.

3. Take short mental breaks.

Working for hours and hours does not improve productivity, contrary to popular belief. Neuroscientists have found that the brain performs best when periods of intense concentration are followed by short recovery breaks.

Even a five-minute break between 60 and 90 minutes of focused work gives the brain some time to recover. Walking briefly, stretching, deep breathing, or even looking away from a screen helps to bring back focus and helps to alleviate mental fatigue.

Those breaks improve cognitive flexibility, so that when required, one can switch between tasks and not have a severe drop-off in performance when doing long-term mental work.

Why is multitasking so difficult?

Even though people often think of themselves as good multitaskers, research has shown that only a very small proportion of people are able to do two complex cognitive tasks in parallel without any drop in performance. For most people, multitasking is fast task switching.

Every switch requires the brain to stop, refocus, and retrieve new information. This repeated switch takes up mental resources and increases the risk of error. If we can reduce task switching to do more work in less time, we can be less mentally tired.

Building better daily habits

The three brain tricks work best when combined with healthy habits throughout the day. A healthy sleep schedule with regular workouts and exercise in the morning and evening, hydration, and avoiding digital distractions is very important for good cognitive performance.

So simple practices such as silencing unwanted notifications, using focus timers, and setting clear priorities every morning can also help the brain manage competing demands more effectively.

The bottom line

Science continues to show that smarter multitasking is less about doing everything at once and more about helping the brain to work efficiently. Grouping similar tasks, strengthening working memory, and taking regular mental breaks are all easy but effective strategies for better concentration and productivity.

Don’t force the brain to juggle multiple things at once, and these evidence-based techniques help us accomplish things faster and less stressfully and have better mental health. And working with the brain rather than against it is the most productive strategy of all in an era of fast work.