Welcome to Day 4 of the Clutter-Free Challenge.
Thank you for posting your wonderful comments yesterday. So many of them made me smile. And many touched my heart. I can tell you are women who love your family and homes. I did select a winner using a random number generator, and have announced her at the end of this post.
Since you worked hard yesterday, today you don’t have a heavy assignment. Just some interesting facts that I think will make you feel a whole lot better about not being able to get your thoughts together.
Wednesday I presented the idea of a brain dump. Well, I didn’t call it that, but that’s what it was. If you are reading this today, I trust that means you have forgiven me for making you do something painful. But it was so important! Our brains are overloaded with information and often shut down because of it. So that step in our Clutter-Free journey was necessary. We are going to get back to that list tomorrow, but I want to give you more time to work on it.
Today, I want to share another, easier, tip to help de-clutter your minds. And that is to deal with multi-tasking. If you’ve always thought multi-tasking was an efficient way to get more work done in less time, I’ve got news for you.
First, I should probably clarify. I’m not talking about simple multi-tasking like folding clothes while watching Food Network (my favorite Saturday afternoon activity). Neither of those tasks are complicated, and are wise ways to use time. The multi-tasking I’m talking about is talking on the phone while driving. Or seemingly less dangerous, checking emails frequently while trying to work on a project. When we multi-task in areas that really do require focus, we are actually diminishing our ability to concentrate in all areas. Studies are proving multi-tasking actually changes the way we think – and NOT in a good way.
Researchers are discovering that a constant mix of technology and redirecting our focus changes the wiring in the brain, making it more difficult to concentrate when we need to. Apparently, texting while surfing the Internet, while updating your status on Facebook in between tweeting your peeps is making it harder and harder to focus. Really? (insert sarcastic tone) Ask any teacher if she’s noticed a change in focus over the years.
The New York Times featured an article titled, “Growing up Digital, Wired for Distraction” by Matt Richtel. Richtel reports, “The lure of these technologies, while it affects adults too, is particularly powerful for young people. The risk, they say, is that developing brains can become more easily habituated than adult brains to constantly switching tasks — and less able to sustain attention.”
However, as all ages increase use of technology, the same thing happens to us. If you’ve worried you have an attention disorder, it might be your brain isn’t designed for multi-tasking. Actually, no one’s brain is!
There are two main problems created by multi-tasking. The first is that we really can only concentrate on ONE thing at a time. It may seem as if we are working on two things at once, but we are really shifting our focus from one thing on to another and back again. But we never fully focus with all that shifting. We bring bits and pieces of what we were working on into the new project. Talk about mental clutter! And slowly we lose the ability to deeply concentrate.
The other problem is that increased exposure to electronic stimuli keeps the brain active even when not in front of a screen, thereby decreasing the brain’s ability to rest. The constant state of stimulation isn’t healthy for anyone. Our brains need rest like our bodies need sleep.
Do you have trouble deciding what to do next? Could an inability to sustain focus be hindering your ability to bring order and balance into your life? If so, then it’s time to address this issue.
Here’s the takeaway for us today: Even though it seems like you are saving time by multi-tasking, you’re not as efficient or effective as you might think. We need a return to mono-tasking. You can retrain your mind. Turn off the TV, shut down your emails for a time, close Facebook, turn your phone on silent. Work on one thing at a time with as little distraction as possible. Over time, you will deepen your ability to focus and concentrate.
And make room for mental rest in your day. Stare out a window, or make a cup of tea and sit at your kitchen table. Imagine Jesus is sitting across from you and breathe in His rest. Sit and watch your kids play. Take a walk. Disconnect for some time each day and allow your mind to be at ease. Use this time to pray simple prayers of thanks to our gracious Heavenly Father, and allow His love to wash over you.
I hope today was an aha moment for some of you. There really are changes in our society that may seem good and helpful, but have negative side effects. Let’s go old-school for some time each day by mono-tasking and resting our brains.
Now that we can think more clearly, tomorrow we are going to take a look at our priorities and look at reducing the clutter in our schedules. Keep adding to your personal assessment to-do list but keep it handy for tomorrow. And the big tip for reining in that bad boy will be on Monday.
Grace & Peace,
Glynnis
Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me with such complexity. You knit me together before I was born, and designed me with such loving care. Help me to understand and accept that You made me with the need to rest. You also designed my brain to concentrate and focus. I want to honor that gift by taking care of myself. Please reveal ways I need to slow down and be more fully present in every area of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
Using a random number generation, I’m happy to announce the winner of my book, I Used to Be So Organized. Congratulation to Susan who posted a comment at 2013/01/23 at 10:18 am.
If you want more encouragement and tips on how to bring order to your mind, schedule and home, I hope you’ll consider purchasing my book, “I Used to Be So Organized.” It’s available through Proverbs 31 Ministries, Amazon, or wherever books are sold. Thank you.
My list isn’t finished, so thanks for the extra day to work on it!
Thank you Glynis
Tried this declutter once before–the bit I started was a great help
Circumstances have my mind cluttered again…restarted by list(which was already started & adding as I think of it)….been very tired…….many people seem to mult-task so much that one cannot keep up with what they want or doing……do need to take that time to rest be quiet etc. thank you
I bought your book several months ago and just thought I would sound in on how important today’s challenge is. When I started your book, I really thought I had the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. I even talked to my doctor about it. I couldn’t remember things, used the wrong words in sentences without realizing it until everyone laughed, couldn’t concentrate on anything. I tried your suggestion to NOT multi-task. It took some time to get my mind to stay on one project at a time, but I kept at it. Today, my memory is back, my focus is back, and my stress reduced greatly. Thank you for your wonderful book that has improved my life in so many ways! God bless you in your ministry.
Ruth- thank you for sharing this with me. I’m overjoyed and praising God for what He’s done in your life. And for letting me be a small part of it!!!
In HIs love,
Glynnis
Oh my goodness! This is me! I’ve noticed that my memory is not as sharp as it was a few years ago. I’ve been worried too. I will have to give this idea of too much multitasking and interruptions some thought. I am interrupted sooo many times throughout my day. I do begin to feel like I am losing my mind. Thank you! Maybe I’m not losing my mind, maybe it’s just working on some other task that I was interrupted from.
Thank you Glynnis! Today’s topic has been an eye opener. One more way my students can use their piano training is to defocus their minds. Reading music and playing an instrument forces you to focus and therefore use most all of your brain function. I never thought about the possibility of practice at home and performance in a lesson as helping the brain to have a break from technological multi-tasking. The multitasking done while reading music and playing an instrument is actually a healthy exercise. I am excited to be able to share your thoughts with my student’s parents. Thank you!
AMEN!
I second that AMEN!!! Thank you Glynnis!
I can definitely tell that my brain has been rewired! I have a hard time just sitting — which is a recent development for me. I find I have to be doing something — checking emails, instagram, blogs, playing a video game. I literally need to “give it a rest”! Thanks for this post, Glynnis!!
While working as an RN, my life was one big multi tasking event. Never enough fee time to think through a problem before the next demanding event/request. Having Multiple Sclerosis the mental stress finally resulted in cognitive problems. Even now as a retired person I feel guilty if I’m not working on something productive. Computer, emails, phone, etc. Your recommendation/permission, of NOT multi tasking and concentrating on one thing at a time sounds like the advise I need to have a clearer mind and become more productive again.
Thank you for validating my thoughts on multi-tasking. I’ve been criticized for saying it’s overrated. When a person tries to multi-task, they are doing multiple things with a fraction of the focus needed to do it well. I’m all for doing one thing and doing it well. Great post!
Thanks for the eye-opener Glynnis! After spending almost 3 years in a very demanding workplace, I am now at home – which is where I want to be. However, the multi-tasking has followed me, and I find I can’t even enjoy sitting down to knit (my favorite hobby) without needing to have the television on in the background for ‘company’. This blog has made me realize is isn’t ‘company’ I’m missing, it’s my brain still wanting to multi-task. So glad you posted this!
I am finding the information very helpful…..thank you
WOW! Thank you for this email today! I have been very concerned about my memory & issues with staying focused. My husband tells me quite frequently to stop being a “spaghetti head”, so your email really hit home with me. Thank you again, and God bless you!
Yeah for Susan…enjoy your book!! I love an idea I got from http://www.flylady.com. She enlists the use of a timer to focus on one task at a time. If I think about organizing my office it is overwhelming but if I set the timer for say, an hour, and decide ahead of time that I will work on my office for that time and nothing else, I give my self permission to STOP when the timer goes off. I get SO much more done when I do things one at a time and give myself permission to not finish the job completely.
I never thought of the attention span of children being influenced by all the digital gadgets they have but it makes perfect sense.
Thank you so much for these daily posts!!
God Bless you!!
It’s very true that multi-tasking is good but not so efficient. I find it hard myself to accomplish anything because you tend to start so many things..but not so focused.
I made my list , as you recommended, and according to priority. I was encouraged to start a small project and work on it until it’s done. Actually, I started it last night. I always procrastinated, finally ,I made myself do it…decluttering one room in my house.
Thank you for the tips, they are really helpful.
I will continue to stay w/ you on this series of Clutter -Free …
Hi I muittask all the time. It helps me stay focused by having the radio or tv on awhile doing devos or checking emails. If I just do emails or devos with nothing on I’m very distractd and can’t focus on what I am doing. By having something else on I focus very well. What I do is just listen to tv or radio as I do my emails or devos. It does not take my mind off of what I am doing by having other things on it actually helps me out by doing it this way. But thanks for telling me about this. When I am out and not able to have radio on I’m very distracted and can’t focus and get done what I am doing not sure why but I am.
A few months ago my husband was on a business trip for one week and my kids were all at Grandma’s house so I was all alone in the house. I put a big sign on the computer screen and the TV that said “Time Waster!” I only allowed myself to go online for 30 minutes AFTER I had finished my work and projects for the day. It was amazing how much I was able to get done in that week with no distractions. Unfortunately it is too easy to fall back in to old habits. Thanks for the reminder and thank you for this series.
Thank you so much for the information on multitasking. I really need to relearn mono-task. I will heed your advice to just relax my brain.
Thanks so much for the turning off technology! I need that one for me. My brain sometimes is going 100% of the time but I feel like I am not getting anything done! As to lack of focus, I work with youth at church and that is a true statement. I even used an object lesson last week doing a whole bunch of tasks at the same time and they could not do it. Technology can be good and bad! I am going to finish some last minute items tonight and then turn off and find a good book!