No, when you move to the easy tasks, you are switching your focus, as you say. But because the tasks are easy, your brain is able to shift out of focused mode and into diffuse mode to perform the easier tasks. Imagine being very cold, your body tenses up, curled it into itself. But then you step into a warm shower. You may start the shower cold (focused), but you quickly warm up and your body relaxes (diffuse). You can move between the modes quite quickly. When you have the TV on in the background and are doing other things as well, you’re probably in diffuse mode, but then something you hear on the TV catches your attention and you stop everything else to watch it, you’ve shifted from diffused to focused. Diffuse mode is a lot like “zoning out” and just letting your mind wander, or like when you are performing tasks but aren’t really focusing on the task at hand (because you know it so well you don’t need to). Ever gotten home and realize you can’t remember the drive? That’s because you drove in diffuse mode (assuming you are an experienced driver and know the way home). If you are a new driver, or going somewhere you’ve never been, you’ll drive in focus mode, paying close attention, following the map directions. Anything new to you like driving, playing piano, swimming, will need focus mode when are just learning, but as you become practiced at it or know it well, you can do it in diffuse mode. You can drive home while your brain is focused on what to make for dinner, but you’re still aware of what’s happening in traffic around you. But you can also shift between modes during the drive, as needed. You may start in focus mode because it’s raining, and traffic is heavy, and you have to merge onto the freeway, so you are paying close attention, but then the rain stops and traffic eases up and you have 20 miles before you have to exit, so you’ll shift into diffuse. Don’t get hung up on the transition moments.