While driving to the mall today (see below), I had time to reflect on what I am enjoying about working on our deck. I realized that I like being able to focus on one project. I like intensity. What I enjoyed the most about my first job in a laboratory was performing surgery. As the lab assistant, I had much to manage: phone calls, lab equipment, reagents, supplies, cell lines. But when I disappeared to do surgeries, I could close the door and focus for a while on my mice. I like devoting myself fully to one pursuit. Multitasking is not me.
Months ago my husband featured a link in his blog to a study on multitasking . “Multitasking makes you stupid” and is “sometimes impossible”.
Hmmm, yes I am guilty of too much multitasking in my mind, too much missing out on life, robbing Peter to pay Paul and depriving Julie in the process. I need to be more fully in each moment, experiencing life as we were made to do. Like children at a playground, relishing the simple joys of swinging – not wondering what else they could be accomplishing on a summer morning!
What is it that drives us to lead such busy lives? Perhaps, in order to experience more, I need to live with less. Less on my lists. And, as the article suggests, “getting plenty of rest”…so it’s bedtime for me, going to get more zzzzs….
2 responses so far ↓
1 Katherine // Jul 25, 2003 at 7:52 am
Amen. Particularly the simile in the third paragraph. A very helpful one.
2 Patricia A. Taylor // Jul 25, 2003 at 2:02 pm
I am reminded of what Corrie ten Boom said, “Beware the barrenness of the busy life.” I am in the middle of several projects right now, but stopped everything to read all of your entries. I am focussing on you right now!