Why does excessive multitasking across apps and platforms increase attention overload?

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Why does excessive multitasking across apps and platforms increase attention overload?

Asked on Nov 27, 2025

Answer

Excessive multitasking across apps and platforms can lead to attention overload because it divides your focus and makes it harder to concentrate on any one task. This constant switching can exhaust your mental resources, leading to reduced productivity and increased stress.

Example Explanation: Multitasking across multiple apps and platforms forces your brain to rapidly switch contexts, which can be mentally taxing. Each switch requires cognitive effort to reorient and refocus, leading to quicker fatigue and diminished attention span. This can result in feeling overwhelmed and struggling to complete tasks efficiently.

Additional Comment:

Consider setting specific times to check emails or messages instead of constantly switching tasks.
Use tools or settings that minimize notifications to reduce distractions.
Practice focusing on one task at a time to improve concentration and reduce overload.

✅ Answered with digital wellbeing best practices.

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