context switching

What is context switching?

Context switching in humans, also known as set shifting, refers to the cognitive process of shifting attention between different tasks or mental states. It involves disengaging from one task and engaging in another, requiring the brain to change its focus, rules, and objectives.

This process can be mentally taxing due to the cognitive load involved in stopping one task and starting another, shifting gears to focus on the new task, and getting accustomed to the new situation with all its stimuli. Frequent context switching and jumping from task to task can lead to a decrease in productivity and efficiency.

Context switching is a key component of executive functioning, encompassing a range of cognitive processes that regulate, control, and manage other mental activities. Context switching difficulty and cognitive inflexibility are closely related: the effort of mentally disengaging from one task, set of rules, or way of thinking and re-engaging with another is significantly higher when your thinking naturally gravitates toward depth and consistency rather than rapid shifting.

For many neurodivergent individuals, context switching can take significant effort. It is usually considered to be related to ADHD, but it’s not strictly an ADHD trait. The extended effort needed by context switching can also be one of the reasons behind the autistic need for clarity.

What does it mean that neurodivergent people have difficulties with context switching?

Most definitions for context switching don’t mention specifics apart from context switching being “challenging” for neurodivergent folk. But what exactly is challenging in it?

When we’re doing something, we’re in the realm of that task.

Our physical environment, the steps of the task, the sensory input we’re feeling, and the mental load of focusing on the task and remembering its scope give context to what we’re doing. And they all need our mental presence and attention,

Let’s take washing the dishes, for example.

• The scene of the event is the kitchen, with all the noises and smells it comes with. There’s the sensory feeling of water, soap, sponges, and rubber gloves.
• Maybe there’s a podcast, audiobook or some music going on in the background to help us focus.
• As for the inner world, thoughts might be in the moment, enjoying the music, or far away, thinking of something else, planning the next day, or daydreaming.

What counts as the same context is different for everyone

Some people consider “being in the kitchen” the same context, so they can easily switch between doing the dishes and cleaning the countertop while stirring a pot of something.

For others, the smallest unit of context is the one task they are doing, and even moving on from chopping up vegetables to cleaning up a spill requires effort and time to adjust.

“Why did I come into this room again?”

Many people are probably familiar with the context-switching effects of moving from one room to another: ‘Why did I come into this room again?’

Crossing the threshold can sometimes have the effect of “erasing” items in our temporary working memory, and we have to walk back our steps to remember what we wanted to do in the first place.

Of course, this is not because thresholds and doorways are magic. Entering a new room means new stimuli, new sights and sounds, and new ideas popping into our heads that knock out whatever is there.

Going into a room wanting to grab something is all fine until I see the load of laundry I need to hang, and then as soon as it enters my mind, I forget what I wanted to do in the first place.

This human experience can happen more often if someone’s exhausted, stressed out or has their thoughts elsewhere, and it can be more frequent with ageing as part of normal cognitive decline.

But for neurodivergent people who have differences in working memory and executive functions, this can happen regularly.

Moving in and out of contexts needs more effort

Anything that’s not part of the realm we’re currently in can feel like an abrupt change, like being yanked out of something familiar and dragged someplace new where we need to find our bearings again.

Maybe the phone starts ringing, and we have to switch to “admin mode”, remembering the details of that phone call, modulating our voices to sound “professional”, etc. Or maybe someone interrupts us, walks into the kitchen, makes themselves a sandwich, and we feel like we’ve been thrown off course.

The transition from one “mode” to another requires effort. But it works both ways: going back to the first context needs mental energy, even if the “interruption” is very short.

This is why jumping from task to task where the contexts are wildly different can be so exhausting – every switch needs the “onboarding” process every single time we come back to it.

How to help with context switching?

Firstly, just factoring in time to adjust before and after contexts can help immensely.

You can also try doing tasks or errands in batches, where the guiding principle for the batches is the same context – whatever that context is for you (location, type of activity, using a specific tool, etc.)

Related terms