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Multi-Tasking is for Losers

Posted on Jul 05, 2010 by Gugel in Psychology

Is your brain being overloaded?

I have an assignment for you.  I want you to run a mile, juggle 3 balls for 15 minutes and spin a hula hip around your waist 100 times.  Unless you’re a well trained circus performer, you instinctively know that you won’t get ANYTHING done if you do everything at once.    You have to split it up and concentrate on ONE THING AT A TIME.

So why do you think it’s different when you’re playing poker?

• Why do you play poker and watch TV?
• Why do you play poker and browse TwoPlusTwo?
• Why do you play poker and talk to your friends on the phone?

When you multi-task, your energy is being spent on just paying attention to everything that’s happening.  Instead, you SHOULD be concentrating on adjusting to your opponents and improving your game.  You might feel like your accomplishing more when you multi-task, but that’s an ILLUSION.

Multi-tasking isn’t always a bad idea.  It’s fine if  it’s a simple task and the stakes aren’t high.  You can obviously drive your car and listen to music (but I bet that a professional race car driver keeps the radio off).

When you’re playing poker, RESIST the temptation to multi-task.  Shut off your browser and TV.  Don’t answer your cell phone.  Remove all distractions.  Respect the game and give it your full attention.