Have you ever tried multitasking? Listening to the lecture while chatting with a friend on Facebook? Or trying to solve a math problem while listening to music? It may sound a good idea to do that so. You may like to eat while you work in your computer. Does this improve your productivity? What does the computing and mathematics teach us about multitasking?
Turing machine:
In 1936 mathematician Alan Turing introduced a hypothetical machine which has ability to do complex mathematical problems by following simple instructions and inputs from an infinite - long tape read by a "head". Head can read and write one symbol at each time. The Church Turing thesis follows that such universal Turing machine would compute any mathematical equation which is possible by humans. If you would like to read more about how such a Turing machine works following is a good example. However, I would not elaborate more on this line.
Imagine a computer with only a one Turing machine inside of it. Although multitasking is possible and computers are capable of doing this fast enough, we would not see apparent slowing from end user point of view, this is surely going to slow down the process. (computers can follow several processes at single time but with slower) Now imagine us as similarly with one Turing machine inside, which is our processor whatever it is. If we try to put more information from multiple tasks, it surely will slow down. Apparently, this is what happens for most of us. Hence, at least for tasks that need more intellectual powers it is not recommended to do multitasking although it seems an attractive option for some. It can really affect the productivity and exhaust.
However, imagine if our brain doesn't work like a computer and we have several Turing machines inside of it. In that case, of course multitasking is possible, and it can improve the outcome of our work and will be faster to get something done.
So, the real important question is that are we owners of single Turing machine or several such machines?
To practice mindfulness, do one thing at a time.
When I look at myself all I see is my attention can only hold onto one thing at a time. It is like the head of the Turing machine focusing on one cell of the Turing strip at a time. I can focus on sound, a thought, a taste only one at a time. So, at least for myself it is only a one Turing machine. Hence, multitasking is not for me. It doesn't mean I do not enjoy some background music while I do some writing. But for mindfulness practice multitasking is a bad idea. What does multitasking do for you? Is it helping or hindering you?
Thank you for reading Multitasking and Turing machine lifehack mindfulness.
You may also like to read: mindfulness definition.
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