Do you find yourself easily distracted?
Are you like me, trying to multitask even when it is not necessary? Yes, I get it when you have a deadline and you really do need to get a lot accomplished in a limited amount of time. But what about when you are home – you are supposed to be unwinding and relaxing from the day. While watching a TV show, do you look down at your iPhone – check emails, messages, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? (Lucky for my kids I don’t have the last two, but if I did you know I would be checking them!) Or when you are on a phone call and the conversation is winding down, do you immediately start checking your iPhone? Not really giving the person you are talking to your full attention, but moving on to whats next.
This week I have been trying to be observant as to when I am going into multi-tasking mode – starting a new strategy called single tasking. I am stopping myself from checking my I-phone while watching TV, at a red light while driving, or talking on the phone. But it really is an effort to STOP.
When I stop, I remind myself of my younger years – you know us baby boomers. Before there were cell phones and the myriad of electronic devices.
Back then the TV had four channels, and if you wanted to change them you had to get up off your chair. So channel surfing was definitely not a thing! (Someday I'll tell you the funny story behind us getting a color TV.) The phone, well that was attached to the wall and ours did not have a long cord. So, if you were talking on the phone that was all that you were doing. Unless you had a party line, and could have more than one conversation. Radios, well they had to be plugged into the wall - yes, I am old! But my uncle had a portable transistor radio and that was so cool! (groovy too!)
I will admit we did multitask at the breakfast table, eating while reading the back of the cereal box! When we played outside – it was just us, our friends, and no interruptions until we or our parents decided it was time to come inside. Or even playing a board game or cards, you were there and no where else, no distraction. Having no distractions is why I enjoy swimming so much – just one stroke at a time. I do my laps by alternating my stroke so that I don’t forget how many laps I’ve done otherwise I might be there all day. Same with biking and hiking, just one foot in front of the other, enjoying the natural surroundings. You can get lost in the beauty if you truly stay in the moment. No need to check your phone, unless you are like me and need it as a compass!
So, this week I would like to challenge you to do one thing at a time – single tasking. Allow yourself to pause when moving from one activity to the other. Don’t just meld them into one, not allowing closure. Enjoy your time – enjoy your one-mindedness. Maybe you can take a deep breathe between tasks to help signal change for your mind and body. You might find that you think clearer and some of that stress you have locked into your shoulders may loosen. But be aware, research shows that our brains may initially resist single-tasking because it’s less stimulating. But doing one thing at a time lets us dive deeper by focusing our time, attention, and energy; which makes us more productive. It also allows us to be more creative and have more meaningful connections. Go ahead, try it!
“It’s marvelous the change that comes when a man gets together all his forces and centers them upon the doing of one thing at a time.” –George Matthew Adams
Comments