“When we flip between tasks, the process frequently feels seamless, but in reality, it takes a series of minor shifts,” says Earl Miller, a neuroscientist at MIT and one of the world’s best experts on human cognition, attention, and learning.
Each tiny change incurs a cognitive cost. Switching between replying to emails and drafting an important paper, for example, depletes valuable brain resources and energy.
Miller’s statement is backed up by research from the University of California, which found that refocusing on a work after an interruption takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds. [three]
And that’s only one of the many interruptions! Consider how much time can be lost due to constant interruptions throughout the day.