Doing more than one thing at a time

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Some things like writing, knitting, walking, cycling become sub-conscious (I'm not good with this kind of terminology) after a while so you can do them without actually thinking. They happen automatically after then become sufficiently practiced.

I do it on the internet a lot. I'll have several sites open at once and switch back and forth between sites. Then I'll even stop and read a book after reading a few posts on a message board, then go back to the book, ect. I generally read things in threes. Three posts and then three paragraphs or a page out of my book, then three more posts, ect. Three is actually my favorite number. Crazy I know. I'm finding more and more these days I have to do more than one thing at a time. I can't sit and read a book for hours on end anymore. I have to be doing something else too. It was crazy last semester because I always wanted to be doing something fun while doing homework. I probably would have got higher grades if I just did my work without doing anything else. I blame it on the internet.

Of course there are certain times I can't multi-task at all. Usually when it comes to using my motor skills because they suck.

I heard about some recent research on this on NPR and even with NT's, the scientest said that people may "think" they are doing good at multi-tasking but they are just doing many things poorly. The research appeared to support the need to outlaw driving and talking on cell phones. I have seen proof of this when stuck behind some idiot talking on the phone when the light turns green and they just sit there.

I am trying to multi-task over time...working on several projects at once and I find that I am doing none of them well but I don't have enough time to focus on one thing and it is driving me nuts. Multi-tasking is trying to fit a 40 hour day into 24 hours.

I have a lot of trouble with multitasking, especially at work. Sometimes I have to help customers on the sales floor while getting a project done in a timely manner. It would be a lot easier for me to just do one or the other, as the quality of my work with each goes up when I do one or the other, and goes down when I have to multitask them. The funny thing is, they all know I'm autistic, yet still expect me to do it as well as everyone else.

Interestingly enough, there are some things I can multitask well enough, such as cleaning my room and/or doing other chores while my laundry is in the wash, then putting the laundry in the dryer, then finishing the chore or starting the next one, though this might be a result of making a routine out of these things rather than strong multitasking ability.

Things like eating while watching tv, and typing this post while listening to my music, I have no problem with. I can't read newsscrolls on the bottom of the tv and listen to it at the same time, though.

I can only really do one or two things at a time. I pefer one because I can focus more.