This past week has been an eye opening week for me. I think it is pretty safe to say that most everyone agrees that multitasking is not as productive as it seems to be.

All my adult life as long as I remember I have multitasked everything all the time. I figured it was my Aries nature. Always in a hurry with too much to do, what other option is there than to do 1-2-3 things at a time?

The topic came up at our tribe call before our weekly webinar last Sunday and I committed to go the week without multitasking and report back to my mentor as to how it went.

It didn’t. Yet I was very aware of when I was doing it and the results were less than preferred. I discovered that although I felt that I was accomplishing more while multitasking… It actually took me longer to complete tasks. I also realized that I was irritable and easily distracted during those times.

And when I made the effort to be singly focused on one task at a time…. I got it done quicker with less stress and irritability.

During the reading this week of Part 6 in the Master Key System by Haanel I resonated with these sections:

19. Attention or concentration is probably the most important essential in the development of mind culture. The possibilities of attention when properly directed are so startling that they would hardly appear credible to the uninitiated. The cultivation of attention is the distinguishing characteristic of every successful man or woman, and is the very highest personal accomplishment which can be acquired.

So then I realized that I spent my entire adult life multitasking everything… To the great dismay of not specializing or accomplishing anything great in any one area. I always had lots of projects, interests, even jobs. Always busy… But not really moving forward greatly in any one area of my life. At least not like how I wished.

21. So with the power of thought; let power be dissipated by scattering the thought from one object to another, and no result is apparent; but focus this power through attention or concentration on any single purpose for any length of time and nothing becomes impossible.

By dissipating my focus onto many things at one time I actually was sending the success cycle into reverse…. It is no wonder that I did not accomplish e great things I wanted to accomplish… I truly believed to be successful was to be busy busy busy with multiple things and projects at the same time!

Now I see the error of my belief! To be focused on one task… One project… One thing at a time actually gives the time spent on it more energy to move it forward.

I am now committing to be singly focused and present when I do a task. Whether it is housework, cleaning, work, or hobby… Even spending time with my family and husband… To be completely present and focused…. Not only will I have better results… My family and husband will appreciate my undivided attention I know!