Multitasking
and
Acetaminophen
August 2nd, 2016
Topics for Today
1. Multitasking and Safety
2. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Risk
Multitasking
You Are a Marvelous Multitasker
While you’re reading these words, you also are breathing,
contracting muscles, transferring chemicals between millions of
cells and doing a host of other activities – most of which you have
no conscious control over.
Impressive!
No Conscious Control?
What the heck does THAT mean?
It means your brain is performing a
Nonconscious Task … or several of them.
Nonconscious Tasks
Nonconscious tasks are those performed via previously learned and
automated behavioral patterns.
In principle there is no consciousness required to perform
them, they come naturally.
Examples are common activities like sitting, walking, cycling, but
also standard activities performed while driving a car or even
simple cognitive tasks like making minor calculations.
There is virtually no limit to the number of Nonconscious Tasks you
can do at the same time.
Conscious tasks
Typical examples of a conscious task is communicating with
someone, measuring something, using a power tool.
Unlike Nonconscious tasks, your brain can
only perform one conscious task at a time.
Carrying out two conscious tasks at the same time
appears to be multitasking, but actually the
consciousness switches between the both tasks all
the time.
Because your brain can only perform one conscious task at a time …
Your attention must be divided between the two
conscious tasks you are attempting to perform at the
same time.
As a result, performance quality drops dramatically and the risks
taken increase.
Important information will be missed and mistakes are easily made.
Researchers have figured out that the brain has a built-in
"bottleneck" that prevents interferences caused by
dueling thought processes.
Some multitasking (like typing while talking) can be
learned by practice.
But many overlapping tasks (such as e-mailing while
talking on the phone) are not really possible.
On the cognitive level, you’re not so good at multitasking.
Nobody is.
In fact, research shows
that you can’t do it at
all.
Your mind actually is
switching between
tasks.
Your mind is not paying
attention to multiple
conscious tasks at once.
Figure out what can hurt you … do something about it!
As long as you perform only one conscious task …
you can combine it with a lot of nonconscious
tasks without losing performance quality.
BUT … if you attempt two (or more)
conscious tasks at the same time, you are
asking for trouble.
Combining two
conscious tasks
1. Walking in a congested
area.
2. Texting.
Both require your
attention and focus.
BONUS TIP:
Multitasking seriously diminishes social interaction.
This won’t hurt you … But it might kill your relationships.
Multitasking or Focus?
Focusing on the task at hand is critical for safety.
Discussion?
Questions on multitasking?
Everybody got it?
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen
The most common cause of liver failure in the US.
Maximum daily dose
3,250 mg per day
Exceeding the maximum recommended dose
Even by a little bit
Can lead to liver damage
The problem is …
This stuff is everywhere
It’s found in more than 600 Over the Counter
and prescription drugs.
Allergy aids, cough and cold remedies, fever
reducers, pain relievers.
Pay attention to how much you are taking.
Read the ingredient labels on every “medicine” you are
taking.
If anything you are taking contains
acetaminophen … break out the calculator.
Don’t exceed 3,250 mg per day total.
Questions?
Comments?
Concerns?
Did you sign the roster?
I’ll see you next month.