It's the most wonderful time of the year, and I am feeling wiped out. I am one of those people who can empty a dishwasher, talk on the phone, and order airline tickets all at the same time. I have always taken some un-spoken pride in this ability. I have even gone so far as to say something like, "Can't you do both?" to my husband of 26 years. It has taken me awhile (ok…a very long learning curve) but I have realized that…wait for it…We interrupt this thought with a change of the laundry and a quick run up the stairs to grab my water. I'm not kidding: multi-tasking isn't all it's cracked up to be. The problem, I have learned, is that you may be doing 8 things simultaneously, but none of them are done "well" or with thought. This has come to light after many lost keys, thoughts ("Wait…why did I just go upstairs when I was in the middle of paying bills?"), and just the feeling that I am literally trying to do too much at once. Granted, I have been out of it for weeks, spending hours in a chair and I admittedly feel "behind", sometimes I think it is better to S L O W down, even STOP, and make a list. Instead of trying to wrap packages, talk on the phone, and make an appointment I may forget to write down, I should just set aside some wrapping time and focus on JUST that. This is embarrassing, but I have even noticed that, thanks to my Bluetooth, it is almost impossible for me to JUST drive and enjoy some Christmas music or better yet, turn everything off and drive in silence. Multi-tasking has brought about craziness in our society to "get stuff done" and run wild until we literally fall into bed at night. At first, I may tell myself how much I have achieved and how wonderful I am to have accomplished so much. This lasts until I find the phone in the bathroom, or the scrubby soap thing from the sink in the dishwasher. THAT is not a good plan when filled with dish-soap. These are the kinds of things that make us lose time while we clean it up and hurriedly move on to the next project. I am seriously thinking about slowing down and giving "single-tasking" a try. I think I will start tomorrow by baking Christmas cookies with my boys without answering the phone or checking email from my kitchen computer! Are you with me?
Cheers,
Coffee Talk Mom
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