Many people multitask. They have many things that they need to do and a short time in which to do them. In order to get everything done, they do several things at one time.

Some forms of multitasking are alright. A college student might eat breakfast while checking his email, for example. In this way, he gets his breakfast, and he finds out if anyone has some good news for him, such as approval of an article. He might also have some business to take care of, such as registering for a class for next semester. Once he has eaten his breakfast and checked his email, he will have the energy to get through his day and the peace of mind of knowing that he can focus on his work.

Other forms of multitasking, however, are not alright. Sending text messages while driving, for example, is very dangerous. The texter must take his eyes off the road to type and read his message. Adding to the danger is the fact that he is distracted. He is paying attention to the message on his phone rather than what is going on around him. Therefore, he is likely to cause an accident.

Everybody has news, and he is eager to share it. A woman may want to tell her friends that she is expecting a baby, for example. This is important, but it can wait.

Some forms of multitasking are considered bad manners. A student should not study when several of his friends have joined him for lunch, for example, because studying in front of them would be rude. His friends are eager to catch up with him. They want to talk, and they would be hurt and irritated if he spent lunchtime studying. They might be eager to talk about plans for the weekend, for example, such as attending the first home football game of the season. They are excited about that, and they are looking forward to it. He can study at other times, such as in the morning or at night, do well in his classes, and still have time for his friends.

People will continue to multitask. They want to be successful, and they know that they need to divide their time between work, activities, family time, and sleep. They do several things at one time in order to fit everything in. Multitasking is acceptable as long as it is not dangerous or rude.