I've got 5 kids so multi tasking is a nessicity for me but I do tend to loose track mid task sometimes. One little trick that I do to help memory along with other areas of the brain is at least once a day I play a memory match game on the computer.

 I agree with the on-going learning.  There is so much out there to learn!  It's a little harder the older I get but that doesn't stop me. The curiosity is still going strong.  

 I never could understand how anyone could not have the curiosity for learning new things.  It's baffling.  Edey

Edey:

 I agree with the on-going learning.  There is so much out there to learn!  It's a little harder the older I get but that doesn't stop me. The curiosity is still going strong.  

 I never could understand how anyone could not have the curiosity for learning new things.  It's baffling.  Edey

I agree. My whole life, the biggest problem I've had is being overwhelmed by the number of things I have going on. I don't have a favorite topic, I have several. I enjoy learning new skills and I want to be good at the ones I do have. Since I've slowed down from full time Mom, then to full time employment, I still find my days are filled to the brim with things I want to do. Not everyone considers those important or even "busy," but they fill my days completely.

Still... I find myself forgetting to put out meat to thaw or having to double check to see what day of the week it is or letting things pile up without a thought when at younger stages I would have been right on them. Being older does change things.

davecrenshaw:

When most people refer to multitasking they mean simultaneously performing two or more things that require mental effort and attention.

When we speak of multitasking, what we really mean is that we are switchtasking: switching rapidly between one task and another. Yet, each time we switch, no matter how quickly that switch takes place in our mind, there is a cost associated with it. It's an economic term called switching cost—and the switching cost is high.

when you multitask you simply lose efficiency. But if you switchtask on a human being, you additionally damage a relationship.

I don't know that I agree that all multitasking is switchtasking, or that effiency is always lost.  Running a load of laundry while I cook dinner can be called multi-tasking, but it used to be called dove-tailing - using the same time twice in an effort to be more efficient.  Any mother with more than one child multi-tasks, & I don't see that it has damaged the mother/child relationship with myself & my 4 children.  My mother & grandmother used to call it "being efficient" - baking dinner while one folded laundry or ironed.

I work as an RN, & "multi-tasking" is a job requirement in my profession. It is not unusual to care for an infant who has cares & feedings due at 7pm, another at 7:30 pm & another at 8 pm.  Sometimes 2 are on the same schedule, & you feed one early & one later - whoever wakes up first gets fed first.  One pump delivers the medication, if needed, while I take care of the diaper changes & feeding.  Over the years as an RN, I have observed that women tend to multi-task more easily than men - it seems like we are wired to handle it better (maybe that "nurturing framework").  Most women have held a baby on their hip while they cook dinner, & watched kids while doing housework, & that multi-tasking experience seems to transfer over to work experience. We have  a couple male RNs who work in our NICU unit, & they say that the multi-tasking part seems more difficult for them.

I think the important issue is to know what works for you & to work safely and efficiently, either at home or in the workplace.