In the last few years we’ve all prided ourselves on simultaneously juggling multiple tasks, particularly women (we feel as if we’ve been doing it all our lives). research has now confirmed that it is bad for us and we end up doing many things badly rather than a few things very well.
In “My Experimental Life” writer AJ Jacobs sets himself the target of weaning himself off the whole multi-media experience: checking emails every few minutes, spontaneously looking up random and unrelated things on the internet when he’s in the middle of writing an article, even the more simple things like reading or watching TV whilst eating. Techniques he used included keeping the mobile off and in a cupboard if he had a deadline and even tying himself into his chair to stop him wandering out for a coffee. Stating out loud what you’re doing at any given time eg: “I’m now buying a newspaper” apparently helps. Meditation is another technique. That last one isn’t much of a surprise. He does make definite progress by the end of his 30 day trial and reports experiencing a sense of well-being in addition to having achieved more but concedes that it’s really hard to break the old habits.
I was talking to Rachel Bamber, a life coach, the other day. She uses information about neurological functions in her coaching techniques. www.rachelbamber.com . Did you know that the average employee spends about 2 hours per day actually producing work? I was amazed it was so little. She also pointed out that the brain needs between 6 weeks to 3 months in order for our behaviour to really change – the “30 days to change” doesn’t work. I can personally vouch for that.
Meditation, a conscious slowing down, does have a measurable impact. I’m not very good at sitting quietly for more than a few minutes at a time but find that exercise, particularly swimming, does it for me. I’m entirely focussed on my breathing which is a positive thing really if I’m underwater – there’s more at stake!
I have been consciously “slowing down” over the past few months and have found that I am more productive as a result.
Have you ever tried to spend your day doing one thing at a time? It’s worth trying as it does provide a better quality of experience, work and of course life.
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