--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you try to multitask in the classic…" description: "\"If you try to multitask in the classic sense of doing two things at once, what you end up doing is quasi-tasking. It's like being with children. You ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/joss-whedon-480_attention_if-you-try-to-multitask-in-the-classic-s_2808900.jpg" --- # If you try to multitask in the classic sense of doing two… ![“If you try to multitask in the classic sense of doing two things at once, what you end up doing is quasi-tasking. It's like being with children. You have to give it your full attention for however much time you have, and then you have to give something else your full attention.” quote by Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/joss-whedon-480_attention_if-you-try-to-multitask-in-the-classic-s_2808900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/joss-whedon-480_attention_if-you-try-to-multitask-in-the-classic-s_2808900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/joss-whedon-480_attention_if-you-try-to-multitask-in-the-classic-s_2808900.jpg) > “If you try to multitask in the classic sense of doing two things at once, what you end up doing is quasi-tasking. It's like being with children. You have to give it your full attention for however much time you have, and then you have to give something else your full attention.” [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Switching focus between tasks creates fragmented attention, resembling caring for children one at a time. **In simple terms:** Multitasking is actually quick switching between tasks. Key Takeaway Focus on one thing at a time. Themes attention focus productivity Mood frustrated reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - work deadlines - parenting - studying - project management Key Concepts cognitive load task switching Questions to Reflect On - How does task switching affect your output? - Can you identify moments when you truly multitask? A Different Perspective Constant switching can increase stress and reduce quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Classic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classic/) [Doing Quasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-quasi-3506091/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Multitask Classic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitask-classic-3506090/) [Quasi Tasking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quasi-tasking-3506088/) [Task](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/task/) [Tasking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasking-622859/) [Tasking Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasking-like-3506089/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [Multi-tasking arises out of distraction itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/multi-tasking-arises-out-of-distraction-itself/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [Multi-tasking is merely the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-w-keller/multi-tasking-is-merely-the-opportunity-to-screw-up-more-than-one/) [Gary W. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-w-keller/) > [“Multi-tasking is NOT an option”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-s-sivasubramanian/multi-tasking-is-not-an-option/) [Mani S. Sivasubramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-s-sivasubramanian/) > [We are so used to multi-tasking. 2014 was probably the most productive year of my life...But I noticed during the last couple of months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-are-so-used-to-multi-tasking-2014-was-probably-the-most-productive/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I enjoy multi-tasking, so I want to do a lot of different things. I want to keep all the plates spinning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-enjoy-multi-tasking-so-i-want-to-do-a-lot-of-different-things-i/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I'm not great at multi-tasking, so when I do one thing... I like to do it 100%.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/i-m-not-great-at-multi-tasking-so-when-i-do-one-thing-i-like-to-do-it/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [Multi-tasking is the ability to screw everything up simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/multi-tasking-is-the-ability-to-screw-everything-up-simultaneously/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [Women are good at multi-tasking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-lujan-grisham/women-are-good-at-multi-tasking/) [Michelle Lujan Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-lujan-grisham/) > [I like multi-tasking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rajesh/i-like-multi-tasking/) [Aishwarya Rajesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rajesh/) > [Multi-tasking is keeping me from whole-hearted worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/multi-tasking-is-keeping-me-from-whole-hearted-worship/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I loved multi-tasking. I loved being involved in a lot of things. To me, the more complex the better, and so being a leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/i-loved-multi-tasking-i-loved-being-involved-in-a-lot-of-things-to-me/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [I'm bloody awful at multi-tasking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-m-bloody-awful-at-multi-tasking/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Its just one day at a time. I love multi-tasking and Im really organized and when you have a certain work ethic, which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-jenner/its-just-one-day-at-a-time-i-love-multi-tasking-and-im-really/) [Kris Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-jenner/) > [I'm not good at multi-tasking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-maines/i-m-not-good-at-multi-tasking/) [Natalie Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-maines/) > [The secret to multitasking is that it isn't actually multitasking. It's just extreme focus and organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/the-secret-to-multitasking-is-that-it-isn-t-actually-multitasking-it/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## More by Joss Whedon > [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Every vampire fiction reinvents vampires to its own needs. You take what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/every-vampire-fiction-reinvents-vampires-to-its-own-needs-you-take/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [When you're making a film, you have an obligation to fill the frame with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/when-you-re-making-a-film-you-have-an-obligation-to-fill-the-frame/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Everything we do really is just a little marker on the long road to death. And sometimes that’s overwhelmingly depressing to me, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/everything-we-do-really-is-just-a-little-marker-on-the-long-road-to/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [At the end of the day I have many answers for it. It has to do with my mom, who was an extraordinary woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-have-many-answers-for-it-it-has-to-do-with-my/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t write strong women characters? I believe that what I’m doing should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/why-aren-t-you-asking-a-hundred-other-guys-why-they-don-t-write/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [People feel removed from sexism. 'I'm not a sexist, but I'm not a feminist.' They think there's this fuzzy middle ground. There's no fuzzy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/people-feel-removed-from-sexism-i-m-not-a-sexist-but-i-m-not-a/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Even in the darkness, every color can be found. And every day of rain brings water flowing to things growing in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/even-in-the-darkness-every-color-can-be-found-and-every-day-of-rain/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I never tire of the heroes that I knew growing up. The fun is not that much different from doing a television show: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-never-tire-of-the-heroes-that-i-knew-growing-up-the-fun-is-not-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Don't just be yourself. Be all of your selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/don-t-just-be-yourself-be-all-of-your-selves/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I always watch what I say. I am what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-always-watch-what-i-say-i-am-what-i-say/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/remember-to-always-be-yourself-unless-you-suck/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I've become less cynical, which is appalling but kind of cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-ve-become-less-cynical-which-is-appalling-but-kind-of-cool/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Xander: It could be witches, some evil witches, which is ridiculous cause witched they were persecuted, women power, love the eatrh, and I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/xander-it-could-be-witches-some-evil-witches-which-is-ridiculous/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [There's a lot of anger in the Twitter-verse, as I've discovered. But there's a lot of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/there-s-a-lot-of-anger-in-the-twitter-verse-as-i-ve-discovered-but/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) [Explore all 529 Joss Whedon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you try to multitask in the classic sense of doing two things at once, what you end up doing is quasi-tasking. 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