Multitasking is a myth that has come to an end. Doing too many things at once does not improve productivity, and doesn’t make for high quality work or experiences. It can cause a lot of stress on individuals and cost businesses money. The problem is, many people still see multitasking as a virtue. You’ll even see job descriptions that say “must be an accomplished multitasker.”

This is a huge mistake. Why do you think there are so many mistakes at the drive thru these days? Go observe how these employees must work. They have to listen to the order, input it into the computer, while counting change for another person at the checkout while also getting drinks for the next order.

* There Is No Such Thing as Multitasking – People think they are multitasking but all they are doing is dividing their time between different tasks at the same time. Thus they are giving less attention to each task, which can result in more stress and less positive results in everything they do.

* Trying to Multitask Makes You Crazy – Not only will it reduce your IQ during the time you’re trying to multitask, it will also make you feel as if you can’t do anything right. Our brains aren’t made for multitasking in the manner we try to do it these days.

* It Reduces Productivity – Many proud multitaskers think that they can do so much at once, and get more done. However, studies show a reduction up to 50 percent in productivity when you multitask. This is huge when you consider how much more you could get done if you just focused.

* It Lowers Quality – People who multitask may think they are doing a good job, but it’s been proved (as Forbes.com has reported) that the quality is reduced by up to 40 percent when multitasking and not focusing on one thing at a time.

* It Causes Stress – Anyone who has a job that requires multitasking, or who forces multitasking on themselves by trying to divide their focus, will experience stress and feel as if they have no down time. For example, try turning off your phone when with your family. Your heart will thank you.

* It Can Be Life Threatening – The stress that builds up when multitasking and doing everything essentially half way can actually affect your health. If you want to avoid high blood pressure and stomach issues, stop trying to multitask.

* It Makes You Forgetful and Absent Minded – On a good day, most people have trouble to remember things without a calendar. But if you are trying to multitask, you’ll notice that you have trouble with short-term memory.

* You Can’t Experience Life Fully – Honestly, you want to live your life in such a way that you can be proud that you’ve done the best that you can do. It doesn’t matter if it’s work, home life or other relationships with friends; giving each your all while you’re with them is important.

If you have a habit of trying to multitask when you are working, spending time with your family, or just watching TV, try to find a way to concentrate on just one thing at a time instead. See if you don’t do better, feel less stressed out, and get more out of it too.