Tweet

Multitask Your Way To A Shorter Life

Written by: Keith Shaw

Article Overview: Most of us think that having the ability to do several things is a gift or a blessing that helps up to get more done in less time. But the truth is that you can drive yourself crazy while trying to multitask and obsessing over every little problem.

Multitask Your Way To A Shorter Life

Everyday I see more and more people trying to do five things at once. Case in point, the guy in the car next to me:

1) driving at 65 mph,

2) and talking on his cell phone,

3) while smoking a cigarette, and

4) drinking his coffee and

5) fixing his hair in the rear-view mirror.

Most of us think that having the ability to do several things is a gift or a blessing that helps up to get more done in less time. But the truth is that you can drive yourself crazy while trying to multitask and obsessing over every little problem.

In fact, when you are "multitasking" you are not truly concentrating or focusing on any of the things that you are doing. Your attention span is actually about zilch.

And, with the advent of text messaging, instant messaging, Twitter (why do they call them Tweets and not TWITS?), e-mail to your phone, laptop, etc., you are using up your precious mental power.

Studies have indicated that over your lifetime, your brain has a FINITE amount of processing power and the ability to focus your attention. So you have an important decision to make, my friends. Do you REALLY wish to waste your limited, precious mind power on email or sitting on the couch watching one endless reality show after another (yawn!) or "Facepage"?

So how do you maintain your power of concentration and mind power to give you laser-like focus?

The first way is through meditation. Eknath Easwaran once said, "Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose." As many of you may be unfamiliar with or just learning to practice meditation for the first time, it is a good idea to find a quiet area in your home where you can remain undisturbed for 10-15 minutes. As you become more skilled at meditation and mindfulness, you will eventually be able to do it during your daily activities. Even if your work is "repetitive" you can meditate while doing it. Jacob Boehme, the German philosopher, realized his vast knowledge of divine things while working long hours as a shoemaker. In every life there is time to meditate and think. In fact, we all have exactly same amount of minutes available to us, 1,440 of them, everyday. Do not let your busy, hectic schedule exclude you from meditating.

The second exercise is concentration in breathing. Breathing has many benefits, not only the improvement of health but also a calming effect. Breathing exercises help you to develop more physical power and more life. Practice inhaling long, deliberate deep breaths. Stand up straight and breathe in through your nose (your mouth is shut) while counting slowly to five. You can close your eyes if you wish. Focus and concentrate on filling the bottom third, then the middle third and then the top third of your lungs. Hold your breath for a count of seven and then exhale until you can not breathe out any more air (i.e., all the air is out of your lungs). When you are exhaling, focus on emptying your lungs from the top first, that is, top to bottom. Do this exercise for five to ten repetitions, at least once per day. Slow, deep, prolonged inhalations and exhalations are of tremendous value. When you feel stressed and your heart is pounding, your circulation is not regular. When your lung action is uneven, the mind becomes unsteady and not fit for concentration. This is why controlled breathing is very important as a foundation for physical health and mental concentration and development. Practice, practice, and practice some more...

The third way is to concentrate on your most critical goals for the next day for 10-15 minutes before you turn in before the night. What you want to do is focus on just the OUTCOMES, not the intricate details. Let your subconscious mind work as you sleep and you will find yourself awakening, ready to hit the ground running. I have found this to be a sure-fire way to set the "tone" and direction for my daily activities.

Turn off the iPod, switch off your cell phone and turn off the television and other electronic devices. Work on building your power of concentration for a longer, healthier life.

Related Articles
  How to Write Short Articles Fast - The Right Way
  Does Height Equal Power?
  Virtual Sales Conversations
  Teens Hooked on Texting
  The $64,000 Question

Article Tags: keith a shaw, merchantville martial arts, multitasking, pennsauken martial arts, shaws karate, truth
Referred by: http://www.jimbouchard.org



Related Forum Posts
Re: How To Post A Forum Topic That Gets Responses - Although I always enjoy GT's posts and find that I read them all the way through, generally I like Tanny my eyes get very tired and I normally just scan them or otherwise give up on them and move to the next one. Shorter is definitely better. MichelleJ
The Second Life Platform - Greetings! I'm not sure how many of you have heard of or are sensitive to Second Life and its related entities. However, Second Life is a fantastic platform to mimmick real life business operations in a real currency based economy. There are plenty of successful stories for creative individuals, but I'd highly suggest doing your research and appreciating Second Life for what it is, and what it isn't.
Re: The Second Life Platform - [quote="JBunion":fhe23fsu]Greetings! I'm not sure how many of you have heard of or are sensitive to Second Life and its related entities. However, Second Life is a fantastic platform to mimmick real life business operations in a real currency based economy. There are plenty of successful stories for creative individuals, but I'd highly suggest doing your research and appreciating Second Life for what it is, and what it isn't.[/quote:fhe23fsu] Hi JBunion, I've heard about the site. So are you currently a member? And more importantly, have you tried to open a store front in that virtual world?
Re: Charge what you're worth - [quote="Tami Szabo":292ze3jd]People will pay you what you ask. Very few will ever up the price. You are the one who decided what you are worth. The key is that we believe our services are worth the price we are asking.[/quote:292ze3jd] Hi Tami, You're absolutely right. In "Think and Grow Rich", Jessie B. Rittenhouse says "For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial's hire Only to learn, dismayed , That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid" (Napoleon Hill 35). I think the same can be said when setting prices on eBay or Craigslist, especially when people are trying to haggle you.
Re: Favorite Christmas movies - [quote="OmnivoreInk":1rxsgr0t]I do have to say I've never liked[i:1rxsgr0t] It's A Wonderful Life[/i:1rxsgr0t]. He spends all his life having his hopes and dreams shattered, feeling miserable, and its only at the end of his life that he can look back and realize how many friends he has, etc. But that doesn't change the fact that up until that point he was miserable![/quote:1rxsgr0t] I love the sentimentality around watching that movie with your Mom! Chtistmas is made up of all those sentimental things. "It's A Wonderful Life" is all about perspective, much in the same way that Scrooge is 'realigned' in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" - which I listen to on CD every year (sometimes twice!) Happy Christmas Everyone! Regards Martin


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Do You Pretend To Listen To People?

What Is The Foundation for Your Vision?

The Golden Rule of Communications

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.