Arrrgh!!!

Everyone I know multitasks. I don't know that I thought about that term until I started chatting and friends would message me from ICQ at the same time. I got reasonably good at juggling the mixed media. Then I realized that I didn't like multitasking. ICQ went by the wayside, and so did chatting.

But, I multitask all the time. I never sit in front of the TV without clothes to fold, or menus to plan, or a book or magazine to read. I'll have the computer on, reading blogs while DH listens to old movies. That's not so bad, but when something new comes on, and I have to ask him what I missed, he gets cranky.

And that brings me to the point: doing two or more things at the same time means doing each less well. Scientists have discovered that the brain has to split it's resources to perform diferent tasks, so the brain power devoted to each task is less than the brain power for a single task. And, if you are doing two different kind of activities, the brain needs time to decide what resources to use as you switch between tasks, which takes more time.

I've found that there are several tasks which I do better without distraction. On those rare nights when I work in the office until 1:00 in the morning, I can get a week's work finished in one night. The quiet, and the ability to focus without interruption make all the difference. If I'm really under the gun to produce results, even the radio is off.

There's one place I'd really like to see us focus on a single task: when driving. I will give up eating in my car if the rest of you will stop reading maps, books and newspapers, and if the ladies would stop doing their makeup, and all of you stop talking on the phone. The rise in road safety would be incredible!

So....now is the time for all good babyboomers to focus their attention on one job at a time. We'll save time and avoid errors, get more done, and be happier campers. Where do you plan to start?