I remember priding myself on being a great multitasker on job interviews and at work. It comes off as something positive – right? Yet, I find the more I try to do at at the same time it seems I’m doomed to fail in everything.
I can’t even count the many pots and pans I have burned right through and had destroyed dinner simultaneously. Thank goodness a can of sardines or beans saved the day – numerous times…. So what happened? Do our abilities to multitask deteriorate as we age? Or maybe these skills get terminated once we become mothers? Because, everyone knows that is a major life change for a woman – no?
So when my husband helped me set up a desk in front of our sofa so I could watch the Oscars and work on the computer at the same time – thought of the multitasking I was getting myself into and I questions just how successful this would be. Well, I got nothing done it seems. My attention was elsewhere and yet I felt like I had to have this set up or else my anxiety was building up that I would be behind schedule.
(by the way I am thrilled for Natalie Portman for Black Swan – it is such a great movie and she’s spectacular in it) King’s Speech was my other favourite – but I was crossing my fingers for Toy Story 3! ;)
I have some success with multitasking, like doing pilates leg circles while in bed with my kiddo at bedtime ;D lol. And I do still set up dinner to cook while I’m at the computer working – but I now set the kitchen timer for a few minutes so I can stir the pot. But overall, this is not a great skill at all. At the moment I am an anti-multitasker. Gone are the youthful energized days fresh out of college and hitting the workforce – where “I am a great multitasker” was a huge strength. Fast forward 8 years – mom/ entrepreneur/ wife/ house cleaner/ laundromat/ chef/ personal shopper/ coffee bringer (honey, I’ll be right down ;) – and it’s a dying trend – so I think.
What are your thoughts….. do tell: Are you a multitasker?
Comments
Wow, it sounds like you are describing me! I know I am a multi-tasker, but of the ADD variety, if I have to label it. If I’m cleaning the living room and have to bring something back to one of the kids rooms and notice something else, I’ll forget about the living room and start tackling the next task. Next thing I know, I started 5 different things, and finished nothing at all. I’ve always been like this, but it’s been bothering me as well lately, because I’m seeing just how much I have to do, and never get anything finished. But between taking care of my kids, house work, blogging, school, crafting, and work… I don’t know that it will change anytime soon ;)
Stephanie
Ha Ha. I am the same way – I didn’t get into the nitty gritty of the details but YES I go to a room for something. forget what it is I wanted. start doing something else and then get distracted and I feel I’m so busy all the time yet I’ve got nothing to show for….. Then I give myself a break and say – I won’t DO everything today – then the next day I’m overwhelmed because I have twice the amount of stuff to do. Arrrghhhh.
What to do…. I guess eventually we just need to accept that it can’t be all perfect and DONE all the time….. now I need to block my internet for a few hours because THIS is also addictive ;D and counterproductive sometimes…(but so much fun, shhhh ;)
xox
I would like I can’t with more than 3 :(
nope. i used to be, especially when i was working outside the home. and i did well juggling, but it was exhausting. time slows down when you focus on one thing at a time, i find, and whatever it is gets done more completely. and while it’s not quite giving me the extra hours i wish for each day ;) … it does make me appreciate whatever task i’m doing. being in the moment. all that stuff :) i rarely have more than one window open on my computer, i don’t try to get too much else done when the kids are needing my attention (this is the hardest one, so much stuff has to be done, and yet, they are the priority), and i almost always burn something when i try to cook and do something else at the same time!
though i did find myself multitasking last night… knitting while watching the oscars. i haven’t seen black swan (a bit creepy, but maybe i’ll give it a chance one day) but i was very happy with the king’s speech.
have a beautiful week, ella.
Ana I will try to learn from you and have one window open on my screen – I wonder for how long? ;)
Yes kids are first!
Knitting and watching the Oscars – I think that is a beautiful combination ;)
and I know what you mean about black swan being a little creepy – it has its dark moments – but she’s amazing with so many layers to her character – a must see!
Sadly my attempts at multi-tasking fail miserably. Pretty sure that I have adult ADD – my family is certain. :)
ha! “what happened?” is right. And I wish I knew the answer. These days, “multitasking” means me pouring cat food into the dishwasher by mistake. sigh.
I have rely on the timer now too! So sick of ruining dinner due to my forgetfulness. And I am always so amazed that I could completely forget that I was cooking dinner.
I prefer to take one thing at a time now, but we all know that is a luxury most mamas can’t afford.
We are rubbish at multi tasking across different roles (working on computer and cooking). We are excellent at multi tasking within roles (3 conversations at once or playing in bed with a child and doing mind-boggling exercises to entertain them). We wear different hats or have, what I call, different “head space” and we, as women, can multi task within that head space (men not so good…) but things get a bit messy when we try and be in more than one head space at a time. As a stay at home working mum, believe me, I know this to be true…