Multitasking Much?

I read this article recently about how to find more leisure time in your life. When I saw it on zite, I automatically opened it up to read it. What I read struck so close to home... and it sure shot down a lot of truths I believed in, until now. The phenomenon of multitasking - how effective is it really? Some people might say, "nope, that's not me... I don't multitask at all...." Stop right there and think again. How many times have you tried to eat dinner, talk to your husband/kids/parents, and watched the evening news at the same time? When was the last time you sent out that message while driving? What about reading and sitting on the throne (lol!)? Each one of us multitask in some way... some more than others, some better than most. I take pride in being the latter. I take pride in being a master multitasker. But after reading the article, I realized it's one of the reasons why I always say "I'm so busy...." It's because I am doing 10 things at the same time, while another 10 things run through my mind.

These are my realizations about multitasking:

1. It takes a longer time to do everything. Try walking someplace while reading your smartphone. Try doing it again without reading from your smartphone.

2. You make more mistakes. Sometimes, when I talk on the phone while I type an email, I type the word that I just verbally said. 

3. It makes you look insincere. No matter how you sincere you are as you talk to a person in front of you, if you're reading something off your phone or tablet, it looks like you're not sincere. I've been om the receiving end of this and I know.

4. You're bound to forget something. This happens to me at work when I combine sending an email reply with reading a news article and running a financial query. The email usually ends up as a draft, unsent, as I get caught up in looking at the query (or the article). One of the tasks usually end up not finished.

5. You tend to pile it on. Because you've done it, and you think you've done it well... The tendency is to pile yourself with more task. Doing ten things in half the time does not mean you "end" in half the time. Chances are, you'll pile on ten things more. (I'd call that a multi-task-aholic... Call in Multitaskers Anonymous).

I think moms are one of those groups of people who are generally serial multitaskers. I don't really blame them, there's a lot that one has to do in a 24 hour period. Let it go. I'm going to give this non-multi-tasking thing a try. No, it won't be a full change for me, but I will definitely try to slow it down. Maybe I'll find some of that elusive free time I've been looking for!

The Corporate Housewife Mom

What is the corporate housewife mom? I've been obsessing about it for the past few days. I like to think of myself as that - because I work almost 10 hour days (yes, i read my mail while eating lunch most days), own a company issued blackberry (therefore i am accessible 24 hours a day), aspire to be the best mom I can be to my 2.2 year old daughter (and baby number 2, now 8mos in my tummy), and the best wife I can be to my 35 (almost 36) year old husband. I AM A corporate housewife mom - but not necessarily in that order.

These 3 roles do not necessarily meld together like coffee, cream and sugar... unfortunately. There are days when I really wish I did not have to leave for work... especially when my daughter wants to cuddle in bed, and tells me with eyes half closed... "still sleepy...". On sundays, I wish I can always make a nice breakfast/brunch for hubby - but I also like spending sunday mornings chatting with him in bed. I wish I could spend a few hours each day tidying up or organizing things at home... but I only have 24 hours in a day. When I get home at 8pm - the priorities are my husband and my daughter. The days when I need to stay late at the office, or attend an office affair... my mind is always revolving around what time I can escape to spend some precious time with them.

I have to remember to check on my daughter during the day - but I usually forget as I get involved in meetings, answering emails, worksheets and the like. I have to check on urgent email in the evenings... but I cannot always do so because I am too involved in focusing on catching up with my husband and spending quality time with my daughter. In the office, I would sometimes have to think about what food I can prepare to send with my husband, when he goes to work. At home, I would worry about issues I am facing at work or a report left unsubmitted.

People have succeeded with alternative work strategies - some spend a few days working from home to be able to spend more time with their families. Some bring home work so they can work late into the evening. I fail miserably at bringing home work - so I have not even considered going into alternative work strategy. I salute the people who have succeeded... It just is not me. I still like the clear delineations between the office and the home... weekdays and weekends... workdays and holidays. 

I am lucky to have a husband who understands (most of the time) that I like working and what I do. I am lucky to have people who help me to take over the roles I am missing as mommy and wife - my mother in law, my mom, the nanny, the cook, my husband (as mommy). I am lucky too that my boss understands too the importance of my family.

Whether as a wife, a mom or a career woman - I know I am not perfect. I fail at a lot of things but I have had my share of successes. At the end of day - even if I cannot give all my time to one role - I try to give all my best into each role. I am a corporate housewife mom. 


Originally written on July 9, 2011.