How many tasks can a person do at once?

Today owing to rapid growth of economy and technical progress the load on workers is constantly increasing. People have to fulfil a huge amount of work and do it very quickly. Different people have different methods for coping with their jobs. Some of them prefer to stretch out their job and finish it during weekends. Others prefer to do all work in time, but it requires much effort form them. Many people, who fail to fulfil all their tasks during weekdays, experience disappointment in themselves and tend to regard themselves to be inefficient.

Is it normal for a person to do several things at once? And is there any measure for people's abilities? Scientists have determined that a person can do not more than four tasks at once. This is the limit of one's brain abilities. But this level is unattainable for some people, while others can do even more tasks simultaneously, though it occurs seldom. Some people can do only one thing at one time.

The ability to do several things simultaneously is a natural gift. This ability can be developed but it requires much effort and is exhausting. In general women are more apt to fulfil several tasks at one time in comparison with men. As for men, they usually need maximum concentration to work qualitatively. Concentrating on one thing prevents them from doing another. Women are able to use comprehensive approach to things and it enables them to fulfil a relatively large capacity of work for a short period of time.

We should, however, admit that it is possible to do several tasks at once only in case these tasks are not very complex and serious. If you have to do some responsible work, you'd better concentrate on it and not divert your attention and try to do something more. Responsible tasks require special attention. You must always take into account all possible consequences. If it threatens discharge or penalty, you'd better avoid risks.

In order to do several tasks at once, a person should possess high intellectual level. But these abilities are usually possible at the expense of memory. People able to do many things simultaneously lack memory capacity and it makes them in turn inefficient.