“Multitasking”

In the morning I review my “To-Do List” and set out to wade thru it like a hot knife thru butter. “I’m going to use my well – honed “multitasking skills” to really make progress today.” 

When I was younger, I do remember at times hearing “you can’t walk and chew gum at the same time”. Well, I’ve proven those critics wrong on that account many times….. walk…walk…chew…walk …trip…trip… trip…swallow gum….choke…choke….hmmmmm. Anyway, we think because we’re good at switching from one task to another that it makes us good at multitasking. Multitasking seems like a great way to get a lot done at once. But research has shown that our brains are not nearly as good at handling multiple tasks as we like to think they are. “In fact, some researchers suggest that multitasking can actually reduce productivity by as much as 40%…. they say that because the brain cannot fully focus when multitasking, people take longer to complete tasks and are predisposed to error … often double the time.” I’m not sure most people believe this, but I think it’s probably true. 

My theory is that “worry” and the associated distractions may be the most detrimental forms of multitasking. I can pause from my current project to worry about 12 other things that are on my mind. I can make it worse by checking my   text messages in the middle of my project just in case I might get a message from the Pope or President… nothing so far. Then I realize I better check the NEWS in case the world is ending and I haven’t finished my “To-Do List”. 

Okay, where are we ? I have nothing against “To-Do Lists”. I actually find them helpful; however, it doesn’t work to try and do everything at once. It’s best to set some priorities and put first things first. 

So, let’s always keep prayer at the top of the list. I really try to pray first in the morning, usually after mass and breakfast. Once that has happened, I. feel that I’m able to get into my regular “To-Do List”.  Come Holy Spirit.