I remember finding an article a year or two ago about how we are not "designed" to truly "multi-task".
Here's a new one, saying the same kind of thing, without being focused on developers* as an audience for the article:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95256794
*the previous article was this one: "Human Task Switches Considered Harmful" http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000022.html
I absolutely hate multitasking (or trying to multi-task), that feeling at the end of the day where I had tons to do but felt like I didn't do anything? That's the result of multitasking.
Give me two big tasks for the whole day and I feel like a boss!
I seriously do not miss the constant task juggling from my previous job:
-Get started on SERIOS business
*INTERRUPTION*
-Deal with issue
*INTERRUPTION*
-Get back to SERIOS bidness
*INTERRUPTION*
(http://i.imgur.com/uh06o.jpg)