Task switching - stack overflow

Since the 80386 processor (and before) computers have had built-in capabilities to handle multiple tasks. All of the registers and variables involved are put aside safely and quickly, and the computer switches to another task, picking up all its registers and variables quickly and immediately adjusting to the new task's memory and environment.

Humans don't do it that easily, or rather, the stack we have for handling transitions between multiple complex tasks is limited. Plus the overhead involved in switching tasks represents a drain which some people handle better than others.

The level of absorption required for tasks involving mathematical reasoning and deep thought seems to make task-switching much more difficult than more "natural" things like folding clothes while watching TV, or talking while cooking. I don't have any problem cooking five or six things at once and going from one thing to the next, in quantities for 500 or more people, but when I'm working on a software problem it can be very hard to handle the distraction of someone asking a simple question.

The analogy I like to give is one of juggling. If someone is juggling and has 20 balls up in the air and you ask them to stop for just one second to give you a hand, they can stop quickly. But resuming the juggling act takes time - you don't just throw all 20 balls back up at once. You start with one, then two, then three and so on. If it happens often enough or frequently enough you might be discouraged from starting again.

That's how it feels sometimes...