Multi-tasking

It's a habit I got into in my teens, when I regularly did my homework whilst also watching the television, much to the disapproval of my parents, and maybe they were right. Maybe if I hadn't,  I would have ended up with three 'A' levels at grade A and gone on to be a brain surgeon - or maybe not, but I have continued with the habit ever since. During the years when I was working full time and had four growing children, plus a dog, two cats and numerous rabbits and other small vertibrates, it seemed the only way to get everything done in the measly twenty four hours a day, seven days a week that I was allocated but, truth to tell, I still find it amazingly difficult to focus on one thing at a time. Even accepting that we women find multi-tasking so much easier than mere men - yes, Yorkshire Pudding, it's true so live with it! - I can see that concentrating on one thing at a time would probably be a better way to go. At least that way, when I asked Keith a question, I would actually listen to the answer and not have to repeat the question five minutes later.
Anyway, this morning, after the usual dog-walking duties, I have been mainly listening to Radio 4, drinking coffee, responding to emails, in between reading blogs, stroking dogs and buying and downloading 'Clever Dog'  by Sarah Whitehead for my Kindle via Whispernet.
And the handy thing about a Kindle is that you can be reading it while you are waiting for the kettle to  boil and listening to the 1947 film of 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene.
Yes, I know - doing everything at once and nothing well...

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can't reply right now - too busy on another task.
Lucy

cheshire wife said...

Life is too short to only do one thing at a time.

Helsie said...

I know what you mean ... and you're right about men too. I especially agree with the bit about asking questions but not concentrating on the answers . Makes Tony mad !!!
Cheers

Cro Magnon said...

At this very moment I'm cooking breakfast for 12, writing a novel in Latin, building a small outbuilding (hence cement all over the keyboard), and milking 30 cows.... And (I almost forgot) I'm also reading about how men can't multi-task.

Jennytc said...

I understand, Lucy. ;)
CW, I quite agree.
Glad I'm not the only one doing that, Helsie!
Cro, a novel in Latin? Any proper multi-tasker writes novels in Greek these days, you know! Latin is so old hat. ;)

Yorkshire Pudding said...

PPRRRPPPRRRR! (sound of a raspberry) Excuse me, it is not true so I will not live with it! What's so good or beneficial about multi-tasking anyway?

Jennytc said...

You get more done in the time you have, YP and in the case of the female of the species, there is often not much choice in the matter! ;)

Plaster board and dust

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