Heading to the gym this afternoon, I noticed I brought my water bottle and phone but forgot my earbuds. Initially annoyed, I considered turning around to get them, but I had to wonder why. It's not like I couldn't workout without them.  I just wouldn't be plugged in to my playlist or the gym's TVs.  My attention would have to be fixed on what I was doing.  No big deal right? 

Well, at one time, it wasn't, but to be honest, like most people, multi-tasking for me is the norm more often than not. I'm at a loss to remember when I last was able to focus completely on one thing at a time.

At any given moment, I'm hooked into any number of social media accounts, on the phone, checking email, and fielding text messages for work all the while running a house and raising my kids solo. Between my phone and multiple computers, no matter where I am, I'm always hooked in.  I'm always on, always within reach.  Regardless of my location, I'm always at work or wrestling with demands from home.  Don't get me wrong, the existance of technology has allowed me to keep a roof over my head and feed my children, but I have to wonder about the long-term cost.

Before I worked from home, my work day ended when I left the office.  Before I had a smart phone, I wasn't reachable 24/7.  Now the lines between my responsibilities are pretty slim.  On a normal day,  I'm checking mail, texting and monitoring clients while doing circuit training.  I'm uploading files and updating clients while preparing dinner and doing laundry.  I'm driving one kid or another to/from school/friends/clubs/doctor appointments while making calls for work and editing articles.  What's more, devices don't have to be part of the equation.  When I'm driving into the office, I'm also re-evaluating my to-do list, rethinking an approach to a project and switching radio channels at a manic rate because I don't have time to wait for a song I like.  More often than not, I just don't do one thing at a time.  

Correct that.  I have found, more often than not, I'm no longer able to do one thing at a time.

A perfect case in point;  one of the greatest pleasures in my life has always been to sit down with a book.  Since the pace of my life has escalated to light speed, it takes concerted effort to focus my attention solely on something that normally gives me peace.  When my brain is in overdrive, there's always something else that needs to be done, always a problem to be solved.  

Doing more has replaced the serenity of focusing upon what's being done.  I think there's something really wrong with that.

blessings,

Catie

Copyright 2011 WomanLinks.com

About the Author : Catie Hayes is founder/editor of WomanLinks.com; a community of support, spirituality, growth and empowerment for women. She is a freelance writer, the single former homeschooling mom of two, an avid fan of laughter, spontaneous dancing, cats and chocolate (not necessarily in that order) and someone who would prefer to lose her phone permanently.