Skip to main content

I Am Writing This Blog

The other night I was watching the news, listening to music, checking email, cooking dinner and reading a magazine (oh, and watching Caroline) when I came across a great piece by A.J. Jacobs in Real Simple. The article, an excerpt from his book The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment, talks about Jacobs' quest to unitask as part of what he calls Project Focus. Jacobs details with hilarity his 30 days of multitasking detox which includes tying himself to his chair with an extension cord, squirming through a meditation session and saying out loud everything he is doing at a given moment. The piece ends with Jacobs dedicating ten minutes to placing nickels in a piggy bank with his son. While almost impossible, the author manages to simplify each individual moment of his day and understand the value of focus.

When was the last time you did just one thing at any given moment? I think about how often I respond with"multitasking" when Caroline asks me what I'm doing. As a mom, we often have no choice but to manage multiple activities and thoughts at one time. This is probably why many of them complain of forgetfulness due to over stimulation. Most moms have no problem stirring a pot of pasta, talking on the phone and toting a baby on their hip. Or driving the car and slapping a kid in the backseat. Or feeding the baby while folding laundry and writing out checks. And yes, maybe even making the mental grocery list while partaking in some nooky. You know you've done that one. And seriously, who can just sit on the toilet nowadays and stare at a wall? Why not flip through that old Sky Mall and convince yourself that Aunt Sally really would like those smiling solar tiki torches for Christmas.

It is very rare that I do just one thing at a time. I have to stop myself from starting activity 2 or 3 before finishing the first. I never watch TV without the laptop or a book open. I only listen to music or the radio while driving or reading. I have tons of windows open on my browser and flip back and forth between them every few seconds. I was painting the house over the weekend but my mind was busily thinking up new blog posts. Most of us are pretty darn pleased with ourselves when we kill two birds with one stone. Why doesn't our society value just one dead bird anymore?

Following in A.J. Jacob's foot steps, I am trying to concentrate on the here and now and enjoy doing one simple thing at a time. I read a story to Caroline tonight without the TV on or music playing or the duster in my hand. I do yoga. I take a shower, alone, in silence. Yeah, that's about it. Even in my sleep I'm multitasking by dreaming up some really crazy dreams that leave me exhausted and wondering what exactly my mind is trying to tell me.

They say awareness is the first step in recovery so at least I know I have a problem. So, wait-what have I been writing about here? I was just trying to watch a movie and paint my toe nails while finishing this up. It doesn't matter. I'm getting so much done tonight! Go me!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Somebody Who Matters

At first glance, one may not think that my mom and I are alike. Moe is shy and reserved. She's calm and thoughtful. She's a good listener and keeps things to herself. She's grounded and sensible. She's practical. You may be laughing now if you know me. I'm loud and outspoken. I'm dramatic and irrational. I talk too much and share too much. My head is often in the clouds and I lack common sense. I 'm a dreamer. How did this kid come from that mom? Well, if you know me, you also know that my mom has had the greatest impact on me and that we are actually very much alike. For example, Moe isn't really shy or reserved. She's just waiting for the right time to tell you what she thinks and you're going to hear it whether or not you like it. She uses the F-bomb freely, and sometimes inappropriately. In her own right, she is a feminist. She's a loyal friend. She's the family organizer. She has a quirky sense of humor and knows not to take hersel...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reflections on Summer with the Girls

I've been thinking all week long about how to summarize my summer home with the girls. For me, one who is never short on words, I just can't quite figure out how to explain the last eight weeks.A poem, or two, perhaps? How quickly work fades/When two little faces smile./Can I stop time, please? A real summer here,/Made for easy days at lake./Everyone is tan. Three mile point love./Makes winters here easier./Beautiful upstate. Caro is a fish./Handstands, front crawl, doggy paddle./So proud of my girl. Char pees on the pot/sometimes but not every time./She gets candy, yay! Oh Canada trip./Thank you to Grams and Opa./Memories for life. Visits with Nana./Got in the lake, yes she did!/So proud of her, too! Days spent with good friends./Playing is so tiring./Let it never end. Me: stay at home mom./Borderline insanity./Hardest job ever. In trying to draft something for this post, I looked back at my posts from last year at this time and I felt relief. Well, first, ...
1 comment
Read more

Tips for Transitioning to Back-To-School Time

Transitions can be hard for kids with special needs, making the back-to-school schedule particularly challenging for them and their families. Here are some tips for making that transition, and first few months of the fall, easier for everyone. Map out a Schedule and Reduce Anxiety While no kid wants to start talking about going back to school when he or she is still enjoying their summer vacation, it’s important to reduce anxiety by starting to talk about what the back-to-school schedule is going to look like. While this could mean creating a visual schedule or developing a calendar, it’s important to talk with your child about what the back-to-school schedule is going to look like, including wake up time, what happens during the day, after school, right up until bedtime. Developing a schedule can hopefully alleviate some of your child's stress about what to expect during the transition and can also open up a dialogue for what questions and concerns your child has. Have your chil...
Post a Comment
Read more