In computing, context switches allow multiple processes to alternate between running and sharing a single CPU by avoiding contention, but they incur an overhead cost. Similarly, when humans shift focus from one task to another, they incur a cognitive cost. For example, switching from writing a script to replying to a Slack message or helping your child with their homework breaks your focus and makes it harder to return to the original task. Report They found that it took an average of 9.5 minutes to regain focus after switching applications.
The impact of context switches goes beyond slowing down your ability to complete tasks. study We found that being interrupted for just 20 minutes can make people feel significantly more stressed, frustrated, and overwhelmed. They also feel pressured to work harder.
Learn something new for free
For better, more productive work sessions, you should aim to minimize context switching as much as possible, but finding uninterrupted focused time can often feel like a challenge.
When you learn on Codecademy, you usually focus on one lesson or project at a time. “But in the real world, you’re working on multiple projects at once,” he says. Silvana SantosSenior Software Engineer at Codecademy. Between bugs surfaced by customer support, on-call issues, and cross-team and cross-department collaboration, it’s rare to find chunks of unstructured time to immerse yourself in code.
“When you’re working with a complex codebase, it can be really difficult to context switch and suddenly jump to a whole new area of the code,” says Sylvana. “You have to remember what’s going on there, which can be pretty difficult.” Sylvana then shares some strategies and tips to help developers or those learning to code manage context switching.
Customize notifications
Here’s a secret learned through years of professional experience: “You don’t need to respond to every message right away,” says Silvana. Of course, you always want to be available and help your teammates clear their roadblocks, but that doesn’t mean you should drop everything and shift your focus. To balance your need for focus time with your team’s need for communication, consider scheduling focus time on your calendar and let your team know you might not be able to respond right away.
It’s also important to identify whether cycling between tasks is due to unnecessary interruptions or simple distractions (if so, no judgment needed). Free or Cold Turkey Blocking access to distracting apps and websites while you’re working on a task may help you avoid the context switching that comes with procrastination. For more advice on procrastination, check out our free course, “Get Organized and Stop Procrastinating.”
Take notes so you can get back to them quickly
Imagine researching an upcoming project while also working on a pesky bug in an existing feature. Both tasks require you to dig deep into the code to understand the user flow. “Juggling between the two tasks can be tiring, and it takes time to remember where you left off,” says Sylvana.
In these situations, Silvana writes down her findings as she works on a task to help her get up to speed quickly. “It can be a quick summary with bullet points, or I might write a comment to myself in the code base,” she says. The benefit of taking notes is that you can share them with your teammates to help them understand your thoughts and situation.
Time blocks are a savior
When Silvana has multiple projects, Time Blocka technique in which you identify your most important tasks and allocate a specific time on your calendar to complete them. “This allows you to plan your day more intentionally and stick to it,” she says. Time blocking can help reduce feelings of overwhelm by breaking down your deliverables into smaller tasks and reducing the mental burden of thinking, “when am I going to do this?”
Time blocking every day might be overkill (but if it works for you, by all means!). “I find this helps me stay more calm and organized, especially when things are chaotic,” says Silvana. You can learn more time management strategies with our free course, Work Efficiently and Be More Productive.
Treat others the way you want to be treated
Neither remote nor in-office work is inherently better for focused work. “It’s easier to reach out to someone in person, but that goes for other people too,” says Silvana. “If you’re stuck on a task, you can walk up to someone’s desk and ask for help, but… you “You’re immersed in your work, and someone needs your help.” In either case, it’s important to communicate your needs and set boundaries for yourself, says Silvana. That might mean changing your status in Slack or Teams to “Away,” or working from home or a quiet place when you need to focus.
“Respect other people’s time!” says Silvana. Here are some tips to keep in mind when chatting: Include the entire question in one message Letting recipients know by when a response is required allows them to respond asynchronously at their convenience.
Boundaries are important to stay focused, even when working from home. For more tips for remote work-life balance, click here.
Revisit priorities with your team leaders
Sometimes it feels like you have more to do than you can fit on your calendar, so it’s wise to ask your manager for help figuring out priorities. Silvana says that while it can be hard to say no to requests or opportunities, pushing yourself too hard can be dangerous. “Telling your manager exactly what your workload is allows them to reorder or even reduce the amount of work you do,” she says.
Team leaders can also help with requests that can be delegated from other teams: “If it’s a high priority, they should be able to hand it off to another task or de-prioritize it,” says Silvana.
A manager can also help you set appropriate expectations for yourself, says Sylvana. How many tickets should you be selecting at a time? How long should these tasks take? How involved should you be in community efforts? Would optional meetings be beneficial for you?
If you’re trying to balance context switching as a learner, try breaking down your course into manageable weekly and daily goals. Because Codecademy is completely self-paced and flexible, you can set yourself up for success by aiming to complete manageable chunks in one session to avoid context switching costs. Remember, consistent participation over a period of time is more effective than sporadically working.
Find a good distraction
Collaboration through community efforts, optional meetups, pair programming, and more isn’t necessarily your primary job function, but it’s valuable, says Silvana. Don’t get so wrapped up in focused work that you miss opportunities to interact with your colleagues. “Pair programming is essential to your growth as an engineer,” she says. “But I think both meetings and pair programming should contribute to your primary job function.” For example, see if you can pair with an engineer on a task related to a project you’re working on, she says.
While some of the challenges with context switching are due to workplace culture, you might be surprised at how much is within your control. We recently added over 70 professional skills courses to our catalog, including free courses to help you with time management and organization.
