The Multitasking Myth: Why Studying with Distractions Sabotages Your Success

Person multitasking with phone and computer at a desk, illustrating the myth of productivity through multitasking.

Picture this familiar scene: a high school student sits at their desk preparing for their ATAR mathematics exam, textbook open, calculator ready—but their phone buzzes with notifications, music streams through their headphones, and social media tabs remain open on their laptop. They believe they’re studying efficiently by “multitasking,” but research tells a strikingly different story. Understanding why multitasking during study represents one of the most common yet damaging myths in education…