Skip to content
Public preview

Single-Task Protocol

At any moment, one tab, one window, one task — multitasking is a neural myth.

30 min Intermediate

Goal

End the "I multitask efficiently" illusion — it's costly rapid switching.

Steps

  1. 1
    Open only current task. Close all other tabs.
3 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate
You finish a full task 40% faster than scattered work.

Evidence base

School: Cognitive Load / Multitasking Research

Founders: Clifford Nass · Earl Miller · Cal Newport (2009)

Stanford's Nass 2009 and MIT's Earl Miller proved "multitaskers" perform worse on every metric; brain doesn't multitask, it rapid-switches.

Keywords

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Single-Task Protocol" take?
This exercise takes about 30 minutes, practiced solo in a Behavioral format.
When will I notice the effect of "Single-Task Protocol"?
You finish a full task 40% faster than scattered work. In the short term: You discover most "parallel tasks" were avoidance of the hard one.
Is "Single-Task Protocol" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on Cognitive Load / Multitasking Research (Clifford Nass, Earl Miller, Cal Newport (2009)). Stanford's Nass 2009 and MIT's Earl Miller proved "multitaskers" perform worse on every metric; brain doesn't multitask, it rapid-switches.
Is "Single-Task Protocol" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

Subscribe for full access

Subscribe to Plus for full access to this practice and the whole catalogue, or try first — free, no sign-in, no commitment.

Interactive practice locked · 3 more steps locked

7 complete practices (one per domain) are free forever, no sign-in.

Enjoyed it? Gift a journey Gift a journey