Have you ever felt the urge to bring about a positive change in your life? Perhaps you have already jotted down the small modifications you wish to make. However, creating an extensive list may not be the most efficient approach to achieving progress.

Are you wondering why? The reason is that our conscious mind has limited capacity and can only process a maximum of five to nine concepts, or pieces of information, at a time. This cognitive phenomenon, known as *channel capacity*, was first discovered by psychologist George A. Miller in 1956.

Whether watching a TV show, listening to music, solving a crossword puzzle, or doing the dishes, your working memory can only store a certain amount of information at a given time. This working or operational memory is all we have in our head from the moment an action begins to its end.

Considering this limitation, we conclude it is not worth taking on many tasks simultaneously. This will affect both the speed of their execution and the quality of the result. This also applies to personal changes, especially when you want to get better at everything at once.

Attempting to complete multiple tasks simultaneously can lead to information overload in the brain's working memory, as each task requires processing a specific amount of data. This can result in errors or even mental exhaustion, where the conscious mind shuts down. The analogy of a computer freezing when too many applications are open can be used to describe this phenomenon.

The author has personally observed the challenges people face when trying to change multiple aspects of their lives at the same time, with many reporting feeling stuck. In contrast, when individuals focus on one thing at a time, the results can be remarkably positive. However, even if you complete your tasks gradually, the progress will not make itself wait. So take your time, don't try to bite off more than you can chew, and you'll be fine!