I’ve been trying to write today’s post…but work keeps disrupting my thoughts. Or perhaps my thoughts of today’s post are disrupting my work. I am torn between what I am passionate about, and what is, at least for now, necessary.
When my thoughts are divided this way I’m not giving 100% of myself to either task. But this is how we live our busy lives these days, isn’t it?
I’m trying to get better; to give my full attention to one activity at a time, but with life coming at me from every direction this can be difficult. My daughter will come into the kitchen while I’m making dinner or washing the dishes. I want to listen to her, I really do. But I have to teach myself to either stop what I’m doing so I can look at her and truly hear what she’s saying, or ask her to wait until I’m finished.
How many times has she said something to me, to which I nod or otherwise acknowledge, only to realize after the fact I completely missed what she said?
Her: “Can I go to my friend’s house Friday night?”
Me (after nodding): “Wait, what did you just say?”
I’ve caught myself checking texts, emails, or WordPress notifications while my daughter is practicing gymnastics, too anxious to find out what I’m missing to wait until she’s finished. My daughter sees this, I know she does, and I try not to…but it’s so tempting.
How much of my life am I missing because I’m looking at my phone instead of what’s in front of me?
Her: “Did you see me Mom?”
Me: “No, sorry. I missed it!”
At work I’ll be focusing on an issue, a problem that needs to be solved, when suddenly an email will pop up begging to be read, demanding my immediate attention. And suddenly I’m pulled into some other project, the original task left unfinished, half done until I remember what it was I’d been working on. My boss insists this is necessary, this juggling act in which nothing is completed well, but is at least finished in the end.
How much more would I get done if I could ignore the emails just for a little while, until I’m finished?
Her: “When will this be completed?”
Me: “When I can give it some attention.”
And speaking of work, I have a new problem requiring my attention. Maybe I’ll get back to this later, or maybe this is enough for now…
This post is in response to the daily writing prompt Disrupt
Thriving Not Surviving 
This post speaks volumes to me. Definitely the phone has disrupted our lives in some or the other way. Really need to stop looking at it and enjoy the outside world 🙂
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This word was perfect for me today! 😁 this post so aptly mirrors what I’m dealing with this morning I couldn’t write anything else!
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It’s high time. But we we are still using the phone it seems 😋
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Well that’s true…I’m working on that issue still….This is HARD!
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What do we do🤦
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Um….Turn off the phone? No…nope…not doing it! 😂
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Turn off the phone? What if the world comes to an end? How will we know😂
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Well…. Maybe someone next to us would tell us….😂
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I think it’s better we keep the phone on for the sake of others safety😂
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Haha ok… Probably for the best!
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😀
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Hahaha! Are you talking about me or have I just posted about you?
The story of our lives! We are losing focus and how.
Let’s hope we can give the attention to our kids that they deserve.
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I agree! It’s definitely something I’m aware of and working on…But it’s not always easy!
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Yes, it is not always easy. But some days are definitely better than the rest. We’ll be there soon. ☺️
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Yes we will! 😁
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This is what multitasking has created! A bunch of half accomplished tasks with no attention to detail. Yet I am great at multitasking. It’s an oddity, right.? I relate a lot to this post. 🙂
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I’m glad you can relate!
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When I try to do multiple things at the same time it almost always ends up taking me longer than if I had been more focused.
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I agree! And my whole day has been like this! Pulled from one task to the next before I’m finished…
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We sincerely have to be synced. Yesterday, work overwhelmed my life that I was unable to actually sit down and work on my blog. I just let it go and let life take its course. Funny how you posted about the same today.
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Life can be funny that way. Work for me is usually busy but not frantic like it was today was… Being pulled in all directions at once…
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When T wants me to listen to him or watch something I turn my phone to vibrate and shut down my notebook. We have also begun having our time during dishes and getting supper ready.
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That’s great! There are definitely times I’m 100% focused on the girls…But I’m trying to do it more…Be more conscious of it. It makes a huge difference
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Another great one is our trips around town on Saturday. We get to hang out and talk although I have my phone. It counts my steps after all!
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Fun! 😁
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In my house, my husband is the distracted one. He is always seen stressed becks of his nature of work. He is almost surrounded by the gadgets that rule him. A multitasker, tasking work through mobile, scheduling in his tab, finalising in his laptop and in BTW fishing for the world news. I ask him something his reply will be to what I asked the previous day.. #disruption #mentalblock
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Yeah that’s no way to live! The distractions…Even the ones it LIKE can be overwhelming…
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In these days and age, it is very difficult to balance tasks. We live in a society that everything is fast. Multi-tasking is not easy.
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So true! Thanks for joining us!
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It’s the way of the world today. But please… Please don’t miss what your daughter is doing or saying. She needs you, and one day you will need her. Just my humble opinion. 💜
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I couldn’t agree more. I’m aware of it and so can change it. I’m getting better but life can be crazy with all I take on some days.
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Hugs! ☺💜
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((hug)) back!
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This is an all too familiar story for most of us. It will take some time to figure out the balance in your current situation, but be prepared for another task as soon as you complete one. I would love to see you over at my blog sometimes. Feel free to browse around and share your thoughts in the post comments.
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Thanks for visiting! It’s true that there will always be something up next….But there are times I need to focus just on what’s in front of me…Like my daughter. I’ll check out your posts! 😁
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Absolutely! Your daughter is certainly a priority and needs time set aside just for her.
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I know this far too well! As a society, we worship busyness and are forgetting the value of stillness, silence, and giving something our full attention. I think is partially why flip phones are making a come back. I also find that closing my email and setting a timer when working on high level tasks allows me to be much more effective and efficient. But it is a constant battle.
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Great tips! I hope in general there is a push toward giving important people and tasks our undivided attention. I really feel it’s something we have lost…
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