Do not be alarmed by the portentous title – it’s much less a manifesto than an exercise in alliteration.
As mentioned at the end of the last post, resolutions are not really my thing, although I do have some plans for the year ahead. One of those is to relax more, which can only be achieved if I recognise the fact that “relaxing” is not the same as being merely slothful; lazing about does not necessarily equal relaxation. When Daniel noted in a comment on the handwriting post that he was attempting not to multi-task, it really struck a chord. There’s rarely a time when I don’t have the computer on with email open, a few tabs in a browser and Tweetdeck buzzing every few minutes (seconds, sometimes). The TV is often on in the background, even when I’m reading. If I’m actually watching a program, I’ll rarely see it through without having read – and probably responded – to an SMS or online message that comes through. If I’m on the phone, I might be sweeping the floor, wiping down benches, putting washing away.
The monotasking plan is for January, at this stage. While I have time on my hands, it’s a habit rather than a necessity to do more than one thing at a time. So, what does “one thing at a time” mean?
At the moment, I’m writing a blog post. That’s all I’m doing. That’s the only thing open on my desktop. When I’ve finished this, I’m going to check my email. Once I’ve done that, I’m going to log out of it – there’s no need for me to have it open at all times.
This might be antithetical to the idea of Twitter, but I’m going to try not having my notifications enabled in Tweetdeck. This means that I won’t be responding immediately to tweets, or opening up links as soon as they come through, unless I’m actually focussing on catching up it.
I’m going to try only having one tab open when browsing the internet. I’ve fallen into the habit of opening links and then not knowing what relevance the article/web-page/LOLcat has once I finally get to it, or who I should thank for the enlightenment or belly laugh. The same goes for when I’m going through my RSS reader. There’s no need to open five articles at a time – if I want to read one, I’ll read it.
When I’m watching TV, I’m going to turn my computer off1. When I’m not watching TV, I’m turning the TV off2. When I’m on the phone, that’s what I’ll be doing. No sweeping, unpacking the dishwasher, clearing the pantry.
When I’m reading a book, I’ll be reading a book. No other distractions3.
I’m hoping that in doing this I’ll be more focussed on what I’m doing, when I’m doing it. That instead of putzing about all day getting through a Google reader backlog, I’ll read what interests me, discard what doesn’t, and have time to go for a swim, get to the market, read my book and have a crack at some of the DVDs I had set aside for the holidays.
I’m hoping that, come February, I won’t have holiday regret.
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
1. Unless I’m blogging the show, of course.
2. That goes for when I’m cooking, too. Unless there’s cricket. Cricket doesn’t count.
3. Except that I’ll probably have some music on.
Related posts:
- Infinite Summer – progress is being made
- Infinite Jest – finite
- "Prince Caspian", or "To Make a Short Story Long"
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Good luck with the monotasking.
For me, I’ve found that social networking software is my biggest hurdle with mono-tasking. It’s the nature of facebook and twitter that you broadcast a comment and then look forward to a response. I’ve just figured that that in the time between responses that gets filled with doing other tasks. But if I’m absorbed in something else – reading, cooking, gardening, playing with the kids – I tend not to check the computer.
Well, I had to read your article twice because I was having a conversation with someone on facebook and checking Twitter and researching baby-gate thingys on the Ikea site so, yes, I also share your need to try mono-tasking. I currently have eight tabs up. Too many! That’s it. I’m with you. No multi-tasking January. I like it. An excellent idea and I really think it might stop me from doing stupid and often vague things like burning the toast while I’m checking my email. I cut out daytime tv a while ago and I found that I got way more done but now I replaced that distraction with others. So here it goes. I’ll use your manifesto as my guide. Good luck!
ps. I had my first test whilst wring this comment – my phone rang, I answered it and was still typing. I stopped typing but read while I half listened to my husband talking about I dunno as I wasn’t really listening. Failed. Already. Ok. Starts…now.
I try to monotask but I think I might have ADHD.
reality raver´s last blog ..Reality Tibits – Wednesday Wrap Up
So where is the promised alliteration??
not that I could give a red rare ragged wretched round rodents rectum at its non appearance. PLEASE NO OFFENCE MEANT!
Sorry, Sourkraut, the alliteration was in the title only… No Dr Smith style “buckets of bolts”, “ludicrous lumps”, “mental midgets” or “bubble-headed boobies”. Will aim to do better next time!
So far monotasking is going well – even managed to prepare a dinner party without multitasking. This heatwave is helping. I have no energy to over-extend. Once I finish this, I’m going to hit the remote and mono-task with Yes Minister and QI.