Multi-Tasking, Dopamine, Tiredness and Marie Claire

I don’t usually pay much heed to what fashion magazines say, but flicking through the pages of November’s edition of Marie Claire (bought partly because the free tube of hand cream on the front reminded me of a tube of paint), I came across a snippet that neatly drew together a few things I’ve heard and read elsewhere.

5.TOO MUCH MULTITASKING
[…]
Simultaneously reading your email, chatting on the phone and doing bottom firming exercises at your desk isn’t necessarily productive. ‘Multitasking overstimulates the dopamine system,’ says Professor Paul Gilbert, consultant psychologist and author of The Compassionate Mind […]. ‘Dopamine is a chemical linked to rewards, drive and vitality and is easily depleted. When stores are low, this can lead to listlessness and depression,’ he explains. Professor Gilbert suggests balancing dopamine release by stimulating your endorphin system – the positive emotional pathway in the brain responsible for well-being. Try gentle activities such as gardening, hiking or meditation.

from “12 Reasons You’re Tired All The Time,” by Anna Magee, Marie Claire, November 2011

Potatoes. Harvested.