Multitasking is SO Not Zen

January 28, 2009

I’ve gotta say it: I’m getting a little tired of all the zen and inner peace books, websites, seminars, and retreats dedicated to helping people get MORE done, fit MORE into their hectic schedules, and achieve MORE success.

I believe our focus on these three things is one of the greatest barriers to inner peace for individuals and for entire societies. If anything, we need to be doing LESS… much less. Contentment is only found in the present moment, not in past nostalgia or regrets, not in future hopes or worries. Here. Now. There is NO way to multitask and be 100% present in each moment. A brain divided cannot stand.

I know what you are thinking, “But I have a ton of things to do each day! I just have to find a way to fit it all in. I need to find a way to do it all.” Here’s my take on that:

1. How many of those things really NEED to be done?
2. How many need to be done by you (can you delegate)?
3. Have you over-scheduled yourself because you can’t say no?
4. Are you really doing any of them as well as you could? Really?
5. Even if you are, how long can you keep up this pace?

Something’s gotta give. At some point, either the double-stuffed schedule falls apart, or you do. You need to learn how to prioritize, paying close attention to what you value most. If what you value most is relationships, then spend more quality time with them (limit distracting activities.) If what you value most is money or the accumulation of material things, then you may want to visit some of those other websites for clues on how to do that. Once you realize you won’t find happiness there, come back. But think about it regularly, “Is what I’m doing helping me protect and nurture what I value most?” If the answer is no, it might be time to get rid of that distraction. I wrote a little more about this in two previous posts: My 5 Point Simplicity Outline and Balance and Newton’s First Law.

Once you have boiled down your schedule to the actual bare essentials (the things you must do, and the things you love to do), you have an additional challenge: staying present while you do them. You cannot do a great job at something, or fully enjoy something, if you are distracted and thinking of other things. If you are at work wishing you were on vacation, you are probably not being very productive (or happy, I might add). If you are at the playground with your kids, but focused on things you need to do for work, you are missing out on quality time with the little ones (still, not happy).

I’ll give you a personal example of this. I home-school my son, and I’ve started this new blog. My brain wants to spend all day and night thinking about my new fun project. But I know that giving my son the best possible education is extremely important to me. So, while we are in class, I devote 100% of my attention to him. I keep a little note pad nearby so if I have a thought I absolutely do not want to forget, I jot it down. Later, when I am 100% focused on my blog, I go back over my notebook to implement those intrusive inspirations. As a result, I do my very best as a teacher, a mom, and a blogger. That makes me happy; and we all know when momma’s happy, everybody’s happy.

Are you looking to simplify so that you can get more done, or so that you can find happiness?

Related posts:

1. Faith, Patience, and Your Moment in the Sun

Posted in balance, present moment, simplicity