It isn’t easy doing one thing at a time in today’s world. I cook dinner while talking to friends on the phone. I consume my favorite podcasts while on the elliptical trainer at the gym. I have been known to walk and text at the same time, which is definitely a bad idea on the streets of Manhattan. And, well, who among us hasn’t checked email or a social feed while sitting the toilet.
Multi-functional phones, highly manipulative social media threads, entertainment that’s available wherever there’s a WiFi signal … all of these things make it easy to try to pile on multiple activities at the same time.
But guess what? It doesn’t have to be this way, and in fact, life feels richer when you stop multitasking.
This is why I keep finding myself thinking about the first principle of a favorite piece of mine called “How to Live Like a Monk.” The principle: Do one thing at a time
I encourage you to try this, asap, and see what you begin to notice.
What I’ve discovered is that activities becomes richer, more satisfying, and easier when you hold your focus on a single thing. Cooking a meal without carrying on a conversation may feel like a wasted opportunity, but separating the tasks will make you more engaged with your conversation mate and more connected to what and how you are feeding yourself. Being with your thoughts during a workout (rather than with music or a social media stroll) may seem like a chore, but this is the kind of downtime where creative ideas can coalesce and insights suddenly flash in front of you. Walking with your full attention on the path ahead and the things around you is a great way to stay safe and enjoy the environment you chose to be in. And heck, why not let a visit to the bathroom be just that … A short break contemplating the meaning of life or simply doing nothing. Follow this approach and your phone will be a lot less likely to take a dunk.
Doing one thing at a time is a practice I'm far from mastering. I tend towards impatient, and I strive for efficiency. But every time I check my multi-tasking tendencies, I'm thrilled by what I discover by being more connected to the present to the moment and activity at hand.
Here's a great way to start: Next time you take a shower, focus entirely on what you're doing in the shower. Notice your choice of product, the way you apply it, the moves your hands and body make, the way you dry off. Just be present to the whole experience. You'll be surprised by what you experience, and you might just be inspired to get present to that one single thing that deserves your full attention, all of the time.