Sometimes we surprise ourselves when we
are able to give up
the very thing we thought we'd be totally
lost without,
and
thereby inadvertently learn a way of being less distracted.
At the end of March, we got rid of our television service. I’d been dreading and longing to do
this for years and years. I had
always had a love hate relationship with television; I liked the background sound
and entertainment it provided, but I also resented that it kept me from writing
more. Often while watching a show or movie, I’d be thinking someone had to sit
down and write this script. Finally,
two things catapulted my decision – first, I was finally ready to put aside my
major distraction, and second, the cost was becoming prohibitive.
You all know that experience where the
anticipation of something is so much worse than the reality. When I
reflect on the anxiety I used to suffer just thinking about not having television,
it shocks me to realize how addicted I was to it. But over the last year
or so, that dependence had begun to wane. Well, it’s been two
months now without it, and I haven’t missed it one day. Not one day! I can’t
believe it. The funny thing is I used to rely on the distraction of
television to get so many things done in a day.
These days while cooking or gardening I no longer hear that constant internal dialogue, "I wonder what's on right now?" This voice has been silenced, (probably replaced by another, I don't doubt). As a result I don't feel so split in mind and body. Now when I'm cutting vegetables, all of me is there at the counter cutting vegetables. It's a wonderful feeling. And these tasks seem to be carried out with a calmer presence.
While I may be moving slower (perhaps because of age or just
being more mindful), my tasks are completed with less frustration than in
the past. Before in my haste to not miss the start of a movie, I’d try to
rush through the job at hand, and if things were delayed then the stress
increased.
When we multitask, we are subjecting the mind and body to quite a
bit of stress. The implicit suggestion in multitasking is that there are many
things to do, and only so much time in which to do them; this then forces us to
split our attention to get it all done as quickly as possible, which in turn
puts a strain on the mind and body.
In my mindfulness class, I have to remind
students that when it’s time to meditate, they should do just that. In
class, they put their writing materials on the floor rather than balance them
on their laps during the meditation because it signals to the mind and body
that the present activity is the priority and focus. Otherwise the mind
will not fully settle as it will be preparing to return to the other activity
before long.
In this vein, research shows that splitting
the attention between two or more tasks requiring input from a person isn’t the
best use of time. There are situations where we can multitask
effectively: tasks like typing a letter which requires our contribution
and effort, and another like chewing or drinking a cup of tea requiring no
input. But multitasking is less effective if both activities require
input. Having to switch the attention from one task to another, the brain
has to deactivate from one activity and brain region, regroup and reactivate in
another region for the other activity thereby increasing the time taken, effort
expended and chance of errors occurring. So focusing on one task at a time is a
far more efficient and effective use of the brain and energy, as it helps the
person better retain information about the job, make fewer mistakes, save time,
decrease stress, and increase memory retention.
In the meantime, we’ve taken to renting movies
and shows occasionally, and now we get to watch what we want, when we
want. Less stress and more enjoyment.
May you be free of distraction today.
