Unitasking

Posted by doularama | Filed under Recommendations

It is the first of January, 2010 and I started the day by listening to straggling revelers, plotting my cleaning and cooking path for the day, composing an e-mail, planning my outfit for Sunday, thinking about the coming births for which I am on call, willing away a starting migraine and trying to relax and fall asleep. It was 5am and I would be in better spirits now had I been just sleeping.

Unfortunately, like too many of us, I am a multitasker.  As I type this, I am making juice, planning tomorrow’s itinerary and talking, squeezing as much as possible in the little time I have.  I am remarkably adept at the physical challenge of patting my head while rubbing my abs and switching hands swiftly.  Where has that gotten me in life?

My husband has a marvelous ability to focus and tune everything out but for his task at hand.  To an outsider it may look like I preface half of my interactions with him with a plea for permission to speak, but actually I’ve learned that not getting his attention first will land me in a monologue.  He has accomplished in this way many great things.  I am merely able to do lots and lots of little things.

My two greatest accomplishments did involve some extent of unitasking, I suppose.  The brain of a pregnant woman shrinks about 7% because she needs to concentrate on a particular job.  She is making a human being and this takes a great deal of focused energy even when she doesn’t realize it.

Studies have shown that multitasking is, in fact, inefficient, but I don’t think that will stop me or many of you from overdemanding  productivity from so many of our minutes.  I will, however, try to focus on some of my undertakings with a little more zeal for simplistic accomplishment.  Perhaps during breakfast with my children or yoga or, at least, during savasana in yoga, when I am supposed to be deeply relaxed.  For me, these are great endeavors, worthy of my focus.



Permalink | January 1st, 2010

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