My Multi-Tasking Life Is Over – Hallelujah?
Posted on Monday, August 1st, 2011
Be proud of your multi-tasking abilities, but be ready to kiss them goodbye, and enjoy it.
I used to be a great multi-tasker. No, I’d say I was a genius at multi-tasking. I had many professional-type jobs in my life that demanded multi-tasking. And, yes, I was dang good at it.
Now, I have officially added multi-tasking to my list of things I’m nostalgic about.
But, is that such a bad thing?
I didn’t see this coming in the whole aging process. I was prepared for the wrinkles and grey hair. I even laughingly talked about how I don’t remember things so much anymore, at least not those things that happened this morning, or yesterday. But I didn’t think of multi-tasking as one of those abilities that disappear as we grow older, like doing somersaults or the splits.
My wake-up call came in three strikes, putting me out of the multi-tasking game.
Strike 1 – I washed a cast iron skillet and set it on the burner to dry, walked four feet away to check the clothes in the dryer, turned to load the washer, turned back to the dryer and pulled out the lint thing, threw the lint in the garbage, picked the garbage up to throw out in the kitchen. That’s when I smelled the unmistakable aroma of a very hot cast iron skillet.
Strike 2 – I put a saucepan of water on to boil for tea, went to ‘quickly’ check my email, and came back into the kitchen to see an empty saucepan on the stove, gently smoking.
Strike 3 – I started water running in the kitchen sink to wash dishes, grabbed the kitty food and fed the cats, then walked down the hall to put some clothes away. As I headed back toward the kitchen, I heard the unmistakable sounds of water starting to run on the floor.
I always felt it was a waste of time to stand and watch a pan dry, water boil, or a sink fill.
Now, I’m not so sure.
I am not a “flibbertigibbet.” I don’t miss appointments. I don’t miss flights. I don’t miss deadlines.
But, my mind seems to spin more now than it used to. I am more easily distracted.
That is why my multi-tasking days are over. Now, in order to avoid disaster:
- I no longer attempt to do two things at the same time.
- I use a digital timer, always.
Through all this, I have discovered something:
Giving up multi-tasking has provided some delightfully quiet moments.
There is something kind of peaceful about watching water fill a sink. There is something calming about focusing on one task at a time. As a matter of fact, I’m not so sure I miss the whole multi-tasking world at all.
Perhaps losing the ability to multi-task is a gift – one of the best gifts we get as we age.
I’m going to go watch a pot boil now and relax.
Your thoughts? Please leave a comment below and tell me what you think.
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HA! Patti, I do this All. The. Time.
I think I need to invest in a timer because using “the brownies are done when I smell them” is getting old (and resulting in darker than desired brownie bottom.)
I even admit to the couple rare times I forgot to pick the kid up at school on early day (forgot it was Wednesday)
So, beware all you young’uns ….your turn is coming soon.
Tracy
Oh yeah, Tracy. I used to cook using the whole “when the garlic is all nice and fragrant…” deal. Forget that! You know how some people wear their iPhones in a little holster??? I’m looking for a holster that will fit my timer. 😉
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate YOU!
You’re singing to the choir kiddo. My short term memory is now so bad I can’t even remember what I was going to say now.
oh shoot… ummmm…… dang. Anyway, yeah. I hear ya.
😉 Thanks Michele!
I’ve ALWAYS had trouble with the tea kettle even when I was younger. The whistling tea kettle has been on my stove since I was twenty! I hate the sound of them but it beats melting a dry pot on the stove.
Good point, Ann. I actually have a whistling tea kettle sitting empty in my cupboard. duh?! It might be wise to get it out, eh? 😉
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I appreciate the company here in the blogosphere. Come back again. I’m wandering over now to check out your website. See ya there!
I love that you have turned this adaptation to how you carry out tasks into a positive – taking little moments for meditation and contemplation – no way could this be a waste of time! Most people crash through their days from task to task and never stop to ‘be’ in the moment, I think this turn of events might just turn out to be a gift to you and it sounds like you’re already making the most of it. There is beauty to be found in the washing up!!
Thank you so much, Tweekala
There IS beauty to be found in the washing up. 😀
I found myself staring at my cast iron pan yesterday as it was drying, and thinking about my Mom and how meticulous she was about treating her cast iron skillets well. I would have missed that moment if I’d been busy doing another task instead of waiting for my pan to dry so I could oil it and put it away… like Mom taught me. That was nice.
Yes, this could bring many blessings in disguise. Thank you again for stopping by and taking the time to leave such a supportive comment.
Ah see! What a lovely moment for you to connect with your dear mama – it’s happening already. Enjoy xx
I used to worry about “senior moments” but then I shared an office with a much younger colleague. Some days she’d be extremely forgetful–and she’d always blame it on a hard night. Now when I forget things, I just tell myself that I must have had a hard night (though, of course, I never can remember why it was a hard night).
Thanks, Sheryl… Yeah, I don’t worry so much anymore. But the “rough night” defense is a good one for sure. 😀 Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts here with me in the blogosphere! I love the company!
Hard night excuse is GREAT. It takes into consideration how many times you have to get up to make sure you locked the house, turned off the appliance. Did you put the cat out and the dog in ?
Let’s NOT count the many trips to the bathroom.
I hear ya, Kaydee! Thanks for sharing and reinforcing the whole idea. It is just so dang silly to expect the same kind of ‘on target’ abilities when you just don’t sleep anymore! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts here in the blogosphere!