Are You
Multi-Tasking Yourself Into More Stress?
by Susie Cortright
When was the last time you were "in the zone"?
When was the last time you experienced that hypnotic feeling of
being so utterly concentrated that you lost track of the rest of the world?
When was the last time you were completely task-oriented,
enveloped in a self-induced trance, hypnotized by the joy of just doing
something - of being entirely focused on a single task?
It takes a great deal of discipline, but it is possible to
cultivate this awareness - this attention - and to elevate the ordinary to the
extraordinary. This mindfulness is meditation in itself.
When you are able to lavish this kind of singular attention on
your kids, you honor them with the greatest gift in the world. And you unleash
enormous focus, creativity, and energy for yourself.
-->Single-task orientation We develop this present moment
awareness, in part, by ending the multi-tasking that pervades a typical mom's
day.
When we live a life that has us cleaning the fridge while
talking on the phone while baking cookies while toting a toddler, days, weeks,
and our children's birthdays slip by.
Ask yourself: Are you multi-tasking yourself into more stress?
When you try to do too much at once, you raise your stress level, which
diminishes your energy and puts you on the fast track to burnout.
Only mindless tasks should be multi-tasked, and there aren't a
lot of mindless tasks when kids are present. Decide which tasks (and people)
deserve your full attention. Then give it.
As you do so, work on full-sensory awareness. What does your
child's hair smell like? How does she look at you? How does her hand feel in
yours? What will you remember about this moment for years to come?
Think about how much better it is to slow down, to get lost in
the moment, to appreciate every one of our God-given, miraculous moments by
creating an environment of serenity, peace, and pure productivity. A place where
there is no frantic, frenzied rushing but only a singular focus that guides us
to the next task and the next, throughout the day.
Your life is made up of ordinary moments, and it doesn't make
sense to rush them in an attempt to find a bigger, better, more dramatic moment.
Joy exists in the mundane tasks, and learning to immerse yourself in them brings
a quiet, powerful form of energy.
You will learn, gradually, how to savor this "everydayness."
Begin now.
Whenever you feel your attention start to shift away from the
present, gently remind yourself to return. Focus on each of your senses in turn.
At this very moment, what do you see, smell, hear, feel, taste?
Start small. Begin practicing mindfulness with a simple routine
you do every day, such as brushing your teeth or making your bed. As you go
through the routine, focus on what your body is feeling at each moment. Once
those simple tasks can hold your full awareness, shift that awareness to the
other tasks in your life.
When you start to feel as though your mind is slipping away from
the present, bring yourself back by asking yourself "what am I doing?" Once
again, focus on the physical sensations the activity produces.
It takes a great deal of discipline (and many, many reminders)
to cultivate this level of awareness and attention, but you'll feel more
creative, focused, and alive if you can master it.
Begin today.