Haud Forrit! It is a Scottish saying for 'Keep Well' and its literal meaning is 'Continue to improve'. It is a 'sign-off' on emails from a beloved member of our family, who lives in Scotland, and it always makes us smile.
I feel that we can learn something new every day. Still, it rarely comes from the proliferation of social media and internet videos, stories and sayings that we are deluged with daily, on the hacks we can use to improve ourselves and our lives.
Life lessons flow from reality, from physically being with each other, observing and listening. When did we start to allow the internet to direct our choices and run our daily lives?
Tim and I were shopping in a white goods store with a fridge with a display on it, showing the date, time and weather. Emily (my daughter) reliably informs us that you can talk to it and it will tell you what you have left in the fridge when you're running out of milk and create a shopping list for you. You can also ask it to show you a picture of the contents without you even opening the door!
I remember way back, probably in the 1990s, that we were all encouraged to multi-task and how much extra time we could squeeze out of every minute. Putting the laws of physics to one side, if this practice was included in our daily round, one thing it was guaranteed to do was ramp up the pressure we put ourselves under and leave us feeling muddled.
I discovered it scattered my attention and I doubt I achieved anything properly. Maybe it's because I am getting older, but I find it much better to devote my attention to one thing at a time. Prioritising my 'to-do' list (which I still need) and tackling one task at a time works. Any stray thoughts that float in, I jot down, and don't go down the rabbit hole of trying to do something towards them at that moment.
Trying to create and write ceremonies last week, I was constantly interrupted by the phone. The ringtone pulled me out of the bubble I was in, and trying to deal with whatever request was coming down the phone, took me onto a new task. I got frayed and weepy after lunch one day, and paused to think, after a hug from Tim. Then I came up with a plan on the best times of day to write.
I feel that multitasking is a myth, and the pull to pause and slow down is one I need to heed. Whatever has energy devoted to it, will increase. Each task deserves my full energy, including returning phone calls.
It is all about keeping well and continuing to improve.
Haud forrit to you all. 🩷
Years ago I would pride myself with my multi-task skills Jane... I was one of those busy people who failed to say NO! :-) and would try to do everything asked of me. And yes you are correct each task deserves its own attention... The tears I can relate to when we get overwhelmed as we are stretched this way and that, they are the first signs that we need to slow down, and take stock. Being empathic and wanting to give our very best to everyone and everything, we can soon get frustrated when we feel we are not hitting the bar of perfection. Thankfully since I retired, though it took a while to slow down ;-) …
It is a fallacy … we a asynchronous thinkers, even if some move quickly task to task they are fooling themselves. David Allen is my favorite instructor on getting things done. Sometime the A list can’t be tackled, as there is not enough energy to do it … fill your stapler instead, then take the night off… After working with an Aussie chap for the better part of a year (over the phone of course), I’ve since taken to ending call with “Cheers!” … ❤️
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I've noticed my memory slipping in recent years. When we multi-task, things slip through the cracks. I think you are wise to focus on one thing at a time.
Great advice, Jane. Like you I'm getting up there and multi-tasking is a thing of the past. - John W. Howell