Student Engagement Multitasking is the Mind Killer

Lindsay Harper, Ed.D., Texas Tech University

We live in the age of information overload and distraction. Many of us feel overwhelmed and bombarded with demands of our attention. In a world swimming with notifications, badges, pings, and other constant interruption, multi-tasking seems inevitable. A necessary evil to squeezing more hours out of our day. Unfortunately, multi-tasking doesn’t actually exist. Science shows it’s literally impossible for our brains to focus on two things at once. Sadly, what we believe helps us get more done, is in actuality, slowing us down and making us miserable.

College students are especially susceptible to this as they often must juggle work and personal responsibilities with their studies. As a result, the level of anxiety and mental health disease is growing among the college student population.

This session focuses on refuting the misconception that simply doing more tasks increases our productivity. To begin, Lindsay quickly breaks down the important distinction between multi-tasking and continuous partial attention. Then, using real-life examples, provides practical methods and hands on activities to teach mindfulness and meditation, which are shown by research to not only lead to more productivity, but improve mood and decrease anxiety.

The strategies taught in this session focus on the actual "how to" of changing our behaviors, because even our thought processes can be habits. So unless we understand how to reprogram our own brains, we get stuck in our habitual responses to the world around us. By focusing on the underlying brain aspects of change as opposed to the behavior alteration approach, attendees will leave this workshop with practical strategies for increasing productivity, while maintaining a clear mind in a fast-paced world.