What’s the effect of multi-tasking on physical fitness?
In another experiment, a group of bilingual volunteers were either asked to answer questions in one language or switch between two languages. The participants were then asked to perform a physical task: squeezing a handgrip as long as possible. People who answered questions in one language were able to endure for twice as long, suggesting that they had much greater self-control to tough it out on a physical level because their brains weren’t exhausted by the demands of thinking in two different languages.
Physical endurance and sustained mental motivation are both key elements for sticking to a workout routine, noted researcher Ryan Hamilton of Emory University.
So…what should you do?
“It’s smart to focus on one task at a time, instead of shifting back and forth between activities,” says Kathleen Vohs, one of the study’s authors. “It helps to conserve mental energy to do the tough stuff, such as staying motivated to stick your diet and work out regularly, despite the many frustrations, temptations, and obstacles that make sustaining a healthy lifestyle over the long haul so daunting.”
And from a business perspective, the researchers note, self-control and single-minded focus, even in the face of the tedious tasks and myriad distractions that pop up during the workday, can boost your job performance.
The bottom line on multi-tasking? Reducing the frequency with which you bounce from task to task to task can help make you healthier, wealthier…and thinner.
Is Your Busy Life Making You Fat? was originally published on blackdoctor.org
