Category: multi-tasking

How to Deal with a Frustrating Day

Today is a very frustrating day. My mind is scattered in so many different directions with things I need to do that I’m not doing any of them well. I know I just need to stop, take a breath, and take things one item at a time, but it all seems overwhelming at the moment.

Have you had days like these? I know how to break things down, make a to-do list, and knock that list down. There’s great satisfaction in crossing things off your list. But today, that’s not working. Everything feels like it’s going to take too long to do and I keep thinking about other things have just as much priority and shouldn’t wait. It’s like I have too many tabs open on my computer and keep skipping back and forth between them, but not finishing anything so I can close tabs, instead of opening yet another one. Too many tabs are open in my brain!

I’m a little angry at myself because I’ve been trying to complete a blog post for this site, and it’s just not coming together. I even missed my own self-imposed deadline to have it done. This only adds to my frustration.

So, I thought I’d just write out my annoyance with myself. Sometimes that helps me deal with things. And maybe I’ll settle down and finally tackle that to do list.

Now, it looks like this stream-of-consciousness writing will become today’s blog post. It’s real and it’s honest. I know this will pass, but it would be nice to know I’m not alone when I have days like these.

Let me know your thoughts. Are you frustrated right now? Or is your to-do list working for you? Let’s build each other up and turn a negative day like today into a positive one. Thanks for “listening.”

Staying Present

I saw a quote this week from a friend on Facebook:  Whatever happened to being in the moment when you do something?

It got me to thinking.  Are we all so busy multi-tasking that we forget to be in the moment?  To enjoy what’s going on right this minute?

I know some of us are always thinking about tomorrow, about the step or even the next item on our list? We’re planning, organizing and thinking about the future.  

Believe me, there’s nothing wrong with planning and organizing.  Sometimes that helps us enjoy what’s yet to come.

But is your ear so glued to your cell phone, that even when you’re checking out at the grocery store, you can’t put the darn thing down to say hello to the cashier and thank the teenager who’s bagging your groceries?  Or even just to focus on the task of unloading your grocery cart with more than one hand? (Can you tell this is one of my pet peeves?)

How many of us are truly appreciative of today, of this moment?  In this moment, I’m doing something I love (writing on my blog).  I am in my beautiful home actually enjoying the rainy weather.  God is good, because I’m able to do this.

Even if you’re not at the perfect job, or your kids are driving you crazy, or you’re facing illness or problems… isn’t it time to take a look around? To be thankful that you have a job, that you are blessed with children, and that good doctors are all around us?

I’ve had cancer twice and God still wants me here.  So while I’m here on this earth, I want to be present in every moment.  Even in the routine, like going to the grocery store, I want to stay involved with what I’m doing. If nothing else, just to be courteous to those around me, standing in line behind me, or working hard as they ring up my grocery total and put my items in bags.

The reality is, no matter what we’re doing, it’s best if we only do one thing at a time before moving on to the next project.  I know I’m a better worker when I do that.

So, take a moment today to look around. Quit multi-tasking so much and enjoy right where you are, right now.  

Stay in the present.  Remember the quote from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

I, personally, don’t want to miss a thing!