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Muliti-tasking
By patti | June 21, 2008
The Deputy Headmistress has a post on multi-tasking that is worthwhile reading. I’m afraid that I’ve been proud of multi-tasking myself, but there is a huge demand for it from mothers since we wouldn’t get anything done at all if we didn’t multi-task. Since it is something inherent in being a mother. I’m not sure I agree with the one quote the DHM used that said we were designed to focus and not multi-task. I actually have given this some thought, because I can see that after years of being constantly interrupted, it is harder for me to focus and concentrate. That’s a scary thing. It is something I’m fighting against. But then there is some mental work that goes into being able to attempt to retrieve thoughts interrupted when other things demanded attention. I’m not talking about the internet here or multi-tasking on web pages or email. Even though my kids are older, I have found that there are still a lot of demands on my time that are not huge things, but small things that have to be taken care of and tend to fracture my time. So it seems to me that it is a woman’s lot to have to multi-task, but maybe we ought to guard against an inability to focus and to concentrate.
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June 21st, 2008 at 7:50 am
Patti,
I read the DHM link also and did some thinking. I think the Internet has greatly contributed to the negativity of multi-tasking and it is why I got rid of my blog. I have to say the quality of my life has improved since I only participate in 2 lists now and rarely flit around the Internet as in the old days. Not to say people should give up blogging. Only for me it was like the worst kind of child always demanding my attention and keeping me from concentrating. I am working hard this year on keeping focused rather than flitting and it is paying off in mental health, I think.
One reason I liked blogging was that I could write a post and use up all those spare moments to check during the day. I have lots of little, unconnected pieces of time that are hard to make productive. Still without the too much Internet I am finding that there are more connected pieces of time than I thought. And I was frazzled by doing a million tiny things.
Not to say that I will never return to blogging only I would like to find a way to make it more concentrated and less flighty.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I feel lazy if I’m only doing one thing at a time. But, you are right about the internet. Without it, I do have lots more time.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
So good to see you post again, Patti.
I too find it hard to focus after years of multi tasking.
Even when I don’t have several things to do at once, I must force myself to sit still and work on just one thing.
I am protected from wanting to blog because I don’t have great things to say, but I sure can use up time reading other blogs.