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.