Monday, January 25, 2010

Focus, Focus, Focus....

Monday, January 25, 2010......


I was raised to believe that Multitasking was what I should strive for in life. Multitasking = Productivity. But does it?

I can understand paying bills online while you're on hold for a live representative on the telephone. In fact, I consider the phone hold music as dead space. However, paying bills online after you begin talking to someone is not productive.

I admit, I've been guilty of multitasking when I shouldn't. I miss out on a lot and am going to try to change my mindset. How? By doing one thing and being in the moment.

Sounds easy, but it's not. I want to be as productive as I can, but sometimes, when multitasking, I miss my mark. I also have a tendency to multi-task 24/7. Times when you're supposed to be enjoying what you're doing right then and instead worry about what's next. The infamous "to-do" list you've created in your head creates havoc on the moment you're supposed to be enjoying.

This past Saturday was National Yoga Day. Although, my sister keeps trying to convince me of its merits, I'm not a fan of the actual movements (although restorative yoga is a great way to stretch and relax), but I am fan of the end result: meditation. [Note: Yoga was created to allow people to sit still comfortably for hours to meditate through the practice of yoga poses -- I don't meditate for hours, no downward dog for me.] It's been awhile since I've been on a regular practice of meditating and need to start again. For me, meditation helps me to focus on the here-and-now and I think I need that.

24 comments:

Badass Geek said...

At my old job, I was the king of multi-tasking. Probably because I shouldn't have been doing half the stuff I was doing while working anyways.

Sandy said...

I am a habitual multi-tasker but it's not always successful. If I'm at home, I get 4 things started and don't finish any!

I didn't know last Saturday was National Yoga Day. I have just recently started doing some yoga at home. It's not too bad. It's only been 3 weeks but I notice I'm not falling over quite as often!

TudorCity Girl said...

Women are natural multi-taskers!
I'm surprised I have gotten so into yoga. I think the last 10 minutes of relaxation/meditation is the best but I can't see to quiet my mind for more than 10 seconds. It's a goal this year to work on meditating...There are some free sessions here in the city I should try.
Why don't we work on it in February?!

Melanie's Randomness said...

If multi-tasking was an olympic sport I would definitely join in. I wish I didn't do it 24/7.

Anonymous said...

Yoga is too painful for me, but I do love the meditation idea, that works.
I also notice that I am often thinking of the next project before I finish the current one, and that makes me do things incompletely, feels like channel surfing during the commercials.

very married said...

i love yoga - and that end part is AMAZING (but i just haven't done it much lately)

Brian Miller said...

i am definitely guilty of letting the to do list take over...i really try to leave work at work. it robs not just you but your fam.

Spot said...

It's especially bad when the to-do list runs through your head when you're trying to go to sleep. I'm extremely guilty of multitasking on a consistent basis. I'm always trying to come up with a more efficient way of doing things. That's why I like writing. I have to focus!

♥Spot

Herding Cats said...

I am also a big multi-tasker (also because I'm a teacher). I seem to always be doing 3 things at once in order to get "more bang for my buck" but the truth is, I need to stop. It's madness. I feel like I'm not living, but "doing."

Anonymous said...

i too am guilty of being a constant multitasker. it's like a sickness really. it's hard to focus on one thing and enjoy the moment.

CiCi said...

I just finished fifteen months of therapy and one of the things I worked on was learning to be present and in the moment. Of course now that I don't work outside the home and do not have a work commitment, I have a calm life with less stress. I lived for so many years multi-tasking and rushing and pushing to accomplish more and more, that to be off the bulldozer is soothing. I now pay attention to what I say in a letter or email, I listen closer to what is said to me, and I participate fully.

Mike said...

I was just multitasking. I was reading your post and looking at the boobies in your follower box! LOL!

I can't multitask.

Working Mommy said...

I love multi-tasking...it makes me think I am getting a lot accomplished when I can check off multiple things from the to-do list :) Unfortunately that carries over to my home life and I feel like I can't relax. This year I'm really going to try harder to enjoy life a little more!

~WM

SuziCate said...

I am guilty of the 24/7 multitasking...I just wish I could declutter my mind enough to try yoga.

Missy said...

I am the Queen of Multi-Tasking! As you say, not always successful, but it is a habit!

Vodka Logic said...

I am great at starting something and never finishing.

My job requires a lot of multitasking and at home I just don't want to

jp said...

I am right there with you, I have a problem with too much multi-tasking and not enough meditating and enjoying the moment. I need to also get back into my yoga! Badly!

Unknown said...

Speaking as someone with three computers and a laptop open and running all at once with two phones on my desk plus a cell in hand, I am a firm non-believer in multi-tasking. {*grin*}

(Or as Foghorn Leghorn would have said, "That's sarcasm son, sarcasm!")

Anonymous said...

When I did yoga, it WAS great. It's hard but you feel soooo good after. Of course, I don't do it NOW.....

prashant said...

I listen closer to what is said to me, and I participate fully.

Work from home

Unknown said...

I always love to visit you here : ). Little snippets of advice! Perfect! I think I miss out on a lot of little moments because of multi tasking. That makes me sad.

Little Ms Blogger said...

Badass Geek – LOL, but that’s what probably made the job bearable.

Sandy – That’s my problem, starting and not finishing; very annoying.
Many yoga studios were giving a free class on NYD. I didn’t go, but knew about it.

TudorCity Girl – That is one of my goals in February.

Melanie’s Randomness – LOL. This made me laugh and I’m impressed that your one statement got a co-worker to eat 29 strips of bacon.

Secretia – Exactly. You’ve described it perfectly. Never quite committing to a program.

Very married – my sister loves it and my friend is an instructor, but ME, not so much.

Brian Miller - I was never successful at leaving work at the office because I worked from home AND many times took calls at 9 or 11 pm and was answering email at 1:30 a.m. Nuts.

Spot – That is the worst! It’s impossible to get your mind to settle down.

Herding Cats – You nailed the reason I want to stop multi tasking. I don’t mind doing that with chores, but I was multi tasking while having fun instead of being in the moment and just being there.

Tiffany – If you can do it, you should try it.

TechnoBabe – Have you noticed a difference in attitude, lifestyle and friendships?

Otin – how old are we?

Working Mommy – it’s great to multi task for work (unless you’re doing ½ ass work) but not good at home (well, unless cooking and doing laundry).

SuziCate – it took me over a year to be able to meditate for 5 minutes and that was me trying it EVERY day. It’s tough, but worth it.

Missy – I think most women are.

VodkaLogic- At least you can shut it off when home.

Jen – It’s a goal of mine for the year.

Dan – LOL. But, I bet you don’t really multi-task when walking or playing with Molly. Somehow, I think she’d put her paw down.

Jules – LOL. I know this sounds crazy, but I had one crazy teacher and left the class angry (I wasn’t when I went in). Now, only restorative yoga (I call it alert sleeping) and do love to meditate when I do it.

Prashant – Excellent. Many people don’t do that.

Life with Kaishon – Multi-tasking does that to a person. I always think, what did I just miss.
Thanks for stopping by.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I'm the opposite. I love the working out aspect of it, but can't focus enough to meditate. Ah ha

Claudya Martinez said...

I used to be a fan of multi-tasking and now I am convinced that it is counter productive because you never give anything your full attention. In other words, you never give it your all.