Let Go Of Multi-Tasking

​As mothers, we pride ourselves on our ability to multi-task.  The more balls we can juggle, the better right?  I strongly disagree with this philosophy. Eventually we end up dropping a ball or worse, we become exhausted from all the juggling… and just want to drop all the balls!  If this describes you, it's time to give yourself permission to stop multi-tasking.

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It is a common belief that the better we are at multi-tasking, the more organized we are.   Let me enlighten you, as a professional organizer I can assure you, this is not true.  The fact is, multi-tasking can actually make you feel less organized.   Why?  Two reasons;  First, the amount of peace in our lives is reduced when we try to do too many things at one time, and second, multi-tasking means that we not only do things less accurately, but we take more time to get them done.    If we can give our full attention to what we are doing at the present moment, we will get it done faster and without as many blunders.   Better still, at the end of the day, we are not frazzled and worn out from juggling several tasks at a time all day long, and we have the energy to be more attentive and patient with our families.  Therefore, NOT multi-tasking can actually help us to be better mothers, not the other way around.

This is not to say that you can’t kill two birds with one stone by knocking out two or three errands in one trip downtown.  This is not multi-tasking; it is simply making good use of your time.  Also, keep in mind that it IS okay to double up on a task if only one of the two tasks requires your focus.  For example, folding laundry and talking on the phone can be done peacefully because it takes almost no brain effort to fold clothes.  But, if folding clothes happens to be a challenge for you, I suggest you hang up the phone.  The key is to not to combine two or more activities that demand your thought and focus.   

Simplicity is the key to staying organized, it is also the key to living a more peaceful life.  So set your focus on completing one task at a time, let go of multi-tasking and take time to breath.