Multitasking might give off the illusion of high efficiency—juggling several tasks at once, ticking them off faster, and keeping momentum going. But beneath this surface-level perception lies a hard truth: research shows that multitasking actually hampers productivity, potentially slashing it by up to 40%. That’s not a small dip—it’s nearly cutting your potential in half.

So, why is multitasking such a trap? At a glance, it looks like we’re simultaneously conquering multiple goals. What’s really happening, though, is rapid switching between tasks. Each time we shift attention from one thing to another, our brain undergoes a reset. This transition brings in distractions, cognitive friction, and slowdowns that we barely notice, but which pile up quickly.

We once believed that our brain’s potential was something fixed from birth—either you were lucky to be born smart or not. But neuroscience has blown that myth wide open. New discoveries are showing us that the brain is far more malleable than we ever imagined. Our daily actions, behaviors, and even thoughts can physically rewire how our brains function.

Here are ten powerful habits that have the potential to literally reshape your brain—for better or worse.