“I’ll Just Do It All” – And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves About Multitasking
It started with a work email.
You sat down to reply—quick, two minutes max—and then you remembered the load of laundry that’s been sitting damp in the washer for two days. So you jump up, switch it over, then realize you never ate lunch. You grab a protein bar, then notice your phone buzzing with a text from your daughter about tonight’s school project. While you’re responding, your laptop dings again—Slack messages, your boss following up on that email you meant to send… and wait, didn’t you leave a pan on the stove?
By the end of the hour, you’ve touched half a dozen tasks, started five, finished none, and feel mentally fried.
Sound familiar?
The Multitasking Myth
We wear multitasking like a badge of honor—especially women. We’re praised for juggling careers, kids, partners, parents, households, relationships, goals, and everything in between. But here’s the truth: multitasking isn’t making us more productive. It’s making us scattered, stressed, and less effective.
In fact, multitasking is a neurological impossibility.
How the Brain Actually Works
Your brain isn’t wired to do multiple complex tasks at once. What it’s doing is called task-switching—rapidly shifting attention from one thing to another. Each time you switch, your brain has to:
Disengage from the current task
Refocus on the new one
Reorient to where you left off
This process burns mental energy, reduces accuracy, and slows you down—even if it feels like you’re moving fast.
In a well-known study from Stanford University, researchers found that heavy multitaskers were actually worse at filtering out irrelevant information and took longer to switch between tasks compared to those who focused on one thing at a time.¹ They also performed significantly worse on memory tests.
The American Psychological Association backs this up: task switching can cost as much as 40% of your productive time.² That’s nearly half your day lost to distraction and cognitive lag.
But I Feel More Productive When I Multitask…
Yes, it can feel satisfying to check multiple boxes, bounce between emails and errands, or cook dinner while catching up on a podcast and helping with homework. But what you’re sacrificing is depth—and often, quality.
You’re more likely to make mistakes, forget key steps, and feel mentally depleted. And the illusion of productivity can make it hard to recognize how much you’re actually burning yourself out.
Why Midlife Makes It Harder
Now, let’s talk about what happens when you throw perimenopause into the mix.
Estrogen isn’t just about reproduction—it’s also a powerful neurotransmitter modulator. It affects memory, focus, mood, and executive function. As estrogen fluctuates (or begins to decline), many women in midlife experience:
“Brain fog”
Difficulty concentrating
Trouble remembering words or tasks
Increased mental fatigue
Your cognitive load becomes heavier. That’s why what used to feel manageable—juggling work and home and a to-do list a mile long—can now feel overwhelming or frustrating.
It’s not that you’re doing less or caring less. Your brain is operating in a different landscape.
It’s Time to Give Yourself Some Grace
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to do it all at once. And in trying to, you’re likely doing more harm than good—to your brain, your nervous system, your self-esteem, and your long-term health.
So what’s the alternative?
Strategies to Stay Productive—Without Multitasking
Instead of chasing multitasking like it’s the only way to survive, try these research-backed strategies that honor your brain, your hormones, and your humanity:
1. Time Blocking
Group similar tasks together and give them dedicated time slots. Instead of checking emails all day, set two blocks: one in the morning, one mid-afternoon. This minimizes context-switching and gives your brain time to focus.
2. Use the “One Thing” Rule
Ask: What’s the one most important thing I need to do right now? Do that—and only that—until it’s done. Then move on.
3. Externalize Your Brain
When hormone shifts are making it hard to remember or focus, don’t rely on your brain to hold everything. Use a planner, whiteboard, app, or even voice notes to track tasks and reminders.
4. Build in Recovery
Your brain isn’t a machine. Take short breaks between tasks. Even five minutes of deep breathing, a walk, or stretching can restore focus.
5. Lower the Bar (on Purpose)
Ask yourself what actually needs to be done today. Sometimes “good enough” is exactly right—and frees you from perfectionism disguised as productivity.
6. Delegate or Delay
You’re not lazy or incapable for saying not today. Give yourself permission to delay non-urgent tasks or delegate them entirely.
7. Support Your Brain Health
Midlife brain fog is real—and supporting your body helps. Nutrient-rich meals, quality sleep, movement, and targeted supplements (like omega-3s or the adaptogens in BALANCE10) can help sharpen focus and support cognitive clarity.
Final Thoughts: Redefining “Doing It All”
Multitasking is not the path to peak performance—it’s a shortcut to burnout. Especially in midlife, when your brain is recalibrating and your hormones are shifting, you deserve a better system. One that values depth over speed, presence over perfection, and grace over guilt.
You can still do incredible things. Just not all at once. And not at the cost of your well-being.
Sources:
Ophir, E., Nass, C., & Wagner, A. D. (2009). Cognitive control in media multitaskers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(37), 15583–15587.
American Psychological Association. (2006). Multitasking: Switching costs. https://www.apa.org/research/action/multitask