Multi-tasking

Last night, while Andy watched The Crew game, I decided I needed a quieter endeavor.  Reading.  Perfect.  I grabbed the copy of Dan Brown's Inferno that Austin just loaned me and headed to my bedroom, my quiet little sanctuary.   I was engrossed.   Other that wanting an occasional sip of my drink, I focused entirely on the book.  It was blissful.  All of you that get caught up in a book know exactly what I mean.

Finally, I succumbed to sleepiness and placed the book on the nightstand, knowing that I'd pick it up again first thing in the morning.  I brewed my coffee and parked myself on the couch and while the kids played video games, I tried to read.  But...  I was distracted.  The noise of the video game, the kids bantering, the knowledge of all the work to be done both for the business and at home...  I couldn't concentrate.

Certainly, part of the problem here is a really busy life.  Working from home isn't easy and leads to more distractions.  But...  I certainly don't help myself by multi-tasking.  By trying to be near my kids and read, I was selling most activities short.  It (and a recent facebook post by a fellow photographer friend, Comfort Witcher) made me stop and think about how often I multi-task.

I Cook while checking email.  (I burn grilled cheese and eggs on a near daily basis)

I check facebook while trying to design an album (and really many times through the day...  You all are so clever and entertaining and I love chatting with you.)

Eat my meals while working on the computer.

Watch tv or movies while working.

Keeping 4 or more tabs open on my computer and jumping between them forgetting what I was trying to accomplish.

I'm ashamed to admit this one but texting while having a conversation with someone (SO rude of me) and yes...  I've texted while driving.  (Dangerous and stupid!)

Talked on the phone with someone while continuing to try to work.  (Many a time I've lost track of the conversation, my train of thought about the work...  or both.)

And so much more....

I joke about being a little A.D.D. but I wonder...  Am I really?  Or has multi-tasking trained my brain to be less attentive.  Have I inadvertently fed an attention deficit instead of nurturing focus.  Am I causing more stress in my life by trying to do to much? (Any mom on the planet knows the answer to that one.)  Has technology combined with multi-tasking made us all less-attentive and even ruder, and less sensitive people?  Why haven't I learned that the best times in my life weren't when I was doing more than one thing?  The best times in my life have been when I'm really "present" in my life, focused on the now instead of dwelling in the past or planning the future.

So, this morning I decided I'd try to go a week without multi-tasking.  One week...  Eating at the table.  One week...  with only one tab of my computer open at a time (the HARDEST!).  One week...  of thoroughly paying attention to one...  thing...  at...  a... time....  It's daunting just to think about it.  But I'm curious.  After a week of just "tasking", will I see an improvement in the amount of work I've gotten done?  The amount of stress I feel?  My ability to pay attention?  We'll see.

I'm only a few hours in and I'm already seeing how hard this is going to be.  My brain is a full out tornado thinking about ALL that needs to be done.  I so wanted to do what I usually do and eat my tuna sandwich while sitting at the computer.  Every direction I look I see something that reminds me of something else I need to do.  Like chocolate, it tempts me.  It lures me into wanting to multi-task.  It distracts me from what I need to do now (finish this blog post) But...  I won't falter.  I'll be strong.

I'd really love to hear from you.  Do you think you're a good multi-tasker?  Or are you feeling overwhelmed by life and your "to do" list?  Do you want to try the experiment with me?  Please chime in!  I want to hear your thoughts!