2. Multitasking
and
Acetaminophen
August 2nd, 2016

3. Topics for Today
Multitasking and Safety
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Risk

5. 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!

6. No Conscious Control? What the heck does THAT mean?
It means your brain is performing a
Nonconscious Task … or several of them.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 ing while talking on the phone) are not really possible.

12. Nobody is. On the cognitive level, you’re not so good at multitasking.
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.

13. 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.

14. Combining two conscious tasks
1. Walking in a congested area.
2. Texting.
Both require your attention and focus.

15. BONUS TIP:
Multitasking seriously diminishes social interaction.
This won’t hurt you … But it might kill your relationships.

16. Focusing on the task at hand is critical for safety.
Multitasking or Focus?
Focusing on the task at hand is critical for safety.

17. Discussion?
Questions on multitasking?
Everybody got it?

18. Acetaminophen

19. Even by a little bit 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

20. 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.

21. Don’t exceed 3,250 mg per day total.
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.

22. Questions?
Comments?
Concerns?

23. Did you sign the roster?
I’ll see you next month.