Multi-Taskers - THINGS GET DONE!

Multi-tasking is the "in" thing to do these days. Next to being "busy" there seems no other credible badge to honour the efficient, well-organized and proficient woman. It's a sure sign that you are capable and dependable. People are amazed by you, bosses line you up for promotions and all those slow, plodding fools who get nowhere fast must be terribly jealous. You are a Multi-Tasker and when you're around THINGS GET DONE! And that's about all that happens....

While I was growing up, my mother was the Queen of multi-taskers. My goodness I would leave for school in the morning and she'd already have the laundry started, dishes soaking in the sink, homemade bread rising and all beds stripped. All this before 8:00 AM! Wasn't she just amazing, a super woman?

Except more often than not by the time I arrived home in the later afternoon she would be hyped up and miserable because there were tasks incompleted. Stressed out but, being the good soldier, she'd push through trying to finish everything before she fell into a puddle of exhaustion. Wasn't she a mother to be admired? Emulated? Except, I could forget about trying to talk to her or spend any time together.

Was my mother an exception or just not very good at multi-tasking? I think not. How many times have we had so much on our plate that we feel overwhelmed and miserable? How often do we find ourselves exhausted and there's still 3 things left to do? How many times are we stressed out, impatient with our loved ones and making ourselves crazy trying to be super woman and get everything done?

Why do we overburden ourselves this way? Will the world end tomorrow if we limit our tasks to a reasonable amount to do in one day? Are we any happier, forfilled or satisfied with our life because we multi-tasked ourselves into lunacy? Is our family happier because of our multi-tasking? Are we?

There is no hard evidence that more gets done or we're more efficient when we multi-task. In fact, mistakes and sloppy results are highly likely. In the end you make yourself appear to be a stark-raving lunatic hyped up on too much caffiene and sugar.

Even if you are one of those super-women ( which I believe is a facade ) who manages to get a zillion things done in a day and remain sane; I doubt you enjoyed one single thing you did. Multi-tasking at it's best is only goal orientated. THINGS GET DONE!

What about taking the time to really enjoy every task we do? How about being mindful and fully present? Even the most mundane jobs can be pleasurable if we slow down. Everything doesn't need to be done at warp speed nor all in one day. Some of the most contented, happy people I've ever known don't rush, don't take on too much and find joy in the doing not just the outcome.

I know what it feels like to multi-task. I've experienced the stress of being rushed, exhausted and overwhelmed. I also, have experienced the elation when THINGS GET DONE. But I wonder how many things I've missed?

The half-hearted conversations with my little girls, blowing off coffee time with friends or seeing the evening shadows and light dancing in my back yard as I finished washing dishes. How many interesting and amusing people have I overlooked or worse, not noticing the sadness of rejection in a loved one's face? Multi-tasking is highly over-rated and if you have fallen prey to this idea of success; I'd rethink your priorities. Trust me; it'll wait, whatever it is and you'll be all the happier for being "one of those people" who back-burner things.