Context Switching/KON-tekst SWIT-ching/
The performance and energy cost of rapidly changing tasks, tools, or mental sets.
Andy says:
Every switch drops a few mental tabs. Fewer switches = more brain battery.
Detailed Explanation
Switching requires reloading goals and rules, which taxes working memory and attention. Costs increase with novelty and interruptions; monotropic attention makes switching harder for many autistic folks.
Community Context
High switch environments (chat, meetings, notifications) burn energy and reduce depth. Teams can design for fewer switches.
Quick Tips
- Batch similar tasks; schedule focus blocks
- Turn off non‑critical notifications; use quiet hours
- Keep a "next step" note when leaving a task
Do / Don't
- Do: cluster by tool/context; protect focus time
- Do: write handoffs; use checklists to re‑enter
- Don't: multitask complex tasks; don't schedule back‑to‑back context shifts
Scientific Context
Task switching shows measurable time/accuracy costs; environment design reduces overhead.
Language Notes
Related: monotropism, hyperfocus, working memory.
Related Terms
Executive Dysfunction
Difficulties with a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control.
Working Memory
The mental workspace that holds and manipulates information for short periods (seconds to minutes) to guide actions.
Decision Fatigue
Reduced decision quality and increased avoidance after many choices or prolonged demands.
Hyperfocus
An intense state of concentration on a single interest or activity, often to the exclusion of everything else.
Time Blindness
Time blindness is the difficulty sensing how much time has passed or accurately estimating how long tasks will take, making it hard to manage schedules and deadlines.
Sources
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