Individual differences in dealing with overflow

Understanding factors limiting the effectiveness of multitasking and increasing the risks of experiencing overflow by individuals engaged in multitasking are important challenges for management sciences and may help with the reduction of psychosomatic costs incurred by employees. The analyses presented in this paper focus on reactivity and multitasking as risk factors for overflow, and on individual differences in dealing with overflow, resulting from an interaction of reactivity and point or interval activity styles. Activity style may be either congruent or incongruent with the temperament. Undertaking activities in accordance with temperament is psychologically rewarding, but undertaking activities mismatched with the temperament, if they are consistent with the expectations of important others, may also be equally beneficial. Individuals with low-energy resources, who engage in multitasking, must deal with a mismatch of the activity style and the capabilities of the body-often resulting in an overflow.