Multitasking is often seen as a useful skill, especially in schools. However, it can actually harm how we learn and think. Studies show that multitasking can make it harder to pay attention and remember information.

1. Attention Problems:

   • A study by Ophir, Nass, and Wagner in 2009 found that students who multitasked a lot did about 20% worse on attention tests than those who focused on one thing at a time.
   • When we try to do many things at once, our attention gets split. This can cut our productivity by up to 40%, which means we get less done (Mark, Gudith, & Kaarst-Brown, 2008).

2. Brain Overload:

   • Cognitive load theory tells us that our brains can only handle so much information at once. When students multitask, it can overload their brains and make learning harder.
   • A study from the University of California, Irvine found that it can take around 23 minutes to get back on track after getting distracted. This really affects how much we learn.

3. Long-Term School Success:

   • A long-term study shared in the Educational Psychology Review in 2018 showed that students who multitask often have lower grades—about 0.5 points lower than those who focus on one task.
   • The American Psychological Association (APA) also reported that multitasking can lead to confusion. Around 30% of students said they struggled to understand tough topics when trying to learn while doing multiple activities.

In short, while many people think multitasking is important in today’s busy school environment, research shows it might hurt our ability to learn. By splitting our attention and overloading our brains, multitasking can lower our school performance. We should think about ways to help ourselves focus better and learn more effectively.