I did something new yesterday. Well, not really new; I used to do it all the time before a few months ago.
Yesterday, I did only one thing at a time. I didn’t multitask. While I did something, I tried to focus my mind on what I was doing. I did not stop to check my email. I did not go on Twitter. I did not grab my phone mid-sentence to Google something. I stopped at the grocery store, played with my boys, visited my friends. We had lunch together. I drove home, listening to the radio, and had a nice conversation with my 5-year old. I thought about why I’m blogging, what blogging is adding to my life. I thought about what blogging is taking away from my life.
All that time, I did not write any posts. During my baby’s nap, I exercised and read a book. In the late afternoon, I dropped the boys at my neighbor’s and spent girl time with my daughter. We talked about our upcoming trip and we laughed together at her 7-year-old humor. We bought fabric together for me to sew her some things.
Still, I did not check my email or text anyone. I focused on the present moment. And you know what? I felt clearer than I have in several weeks. I know that there are several projects that I want to complete over the next couple of months, and it’s going to take more of these kind of days for me to be able to do that. I love blogging, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes I just need to do one thing at a time.
I think this is going to be my new thing: One-thing Thursday. Will you join me?
For the record, I hate multitasking. Continuous interruptions end up resulting in lots of sub par outcomes rather than one focused, successful result. Like others, I feel compelled to do it, especially at work. But human beings are incredibly bad at multitasking. Go try to pat your head and rub your stomach while thinking about something completely unrelated, and you’ll see what I mean.
I’ve also learned that visual cues often imply more than actions. When someone approaches my desk, while I am (or believe I am) fully capable of finishing up an email while they talk to me about their problem, my focus on the secondary task implies that I am not paying sufficient attention. And I’m sure it’s the same at hope. I can’t really fully listen to what you are saying *and* watch TV or type on my laptop.
So yes, I will join you.