To meditate, or to do work, or to check the blog, or to be with the kids?  THAT is the question.  The possibilities floated by like fish gliding through the ocean and circling back around.  They weren’t intrusive thoughts.  On the contrary.  I barely paid any attention to them. That was it! I was not paying any mindful attention to what I was doing or my thoughts.

I was on the computer doing a bit of this and that, as I often do, in this age of multitasking.  I was checking out Sharon Salzberg’s website for the 28 day meditation Challenge.  At the same time, in consideration of my day’s schedule, I began searching this weekend’s picks for activities in the city. Quickly, I found myself reading about a few local restaurants- Yum.  In this way, I found myself drifting from one musing from the next, hiding behind the excuse that I don’t get enough time to “just be” and have mornings like this.  The truth is, while one could argue that I was “being,” I was not engaged with the kind of absorption in one task that results in feeling fulfilled.  Rather, I was meandering, and if I allowed it to continue, it would result in my feeling like I hadn’t really been anywhere or done anywhere.  I’ve been there before, who hasn’t?  We call it multitasking.

The idea behind multitasking is admirable.  The premise is that we will be able to do and accomplish more if we work on several things at a time.  Unfortunately, research does not support this.  The studies reveal that we do not truly have the capacity for divided attention.  Rather, our brain only focuses on one thing at a time.  Therefore, multitasking requires switching back and forth between the numerous tasks we are engaging in. Rather than increasing efficiency, it reduces it. Moreover, when we practice multitasking, we actually get worse, not better at it.  Studies now show that performance suffers for individuals who engage in habitual multitasking.  Rather than being more effective, these individuals were slower, and had more difficulty filtering information and organizing thoughts.

Combine the cultural norms of multitasking with the computer gadget revolution and we may be in trouble.  Researchers are examining potential effects of multitasking with electronic devices such as texting with your phone while watching a movie on your tablet.  Results from MRI brain imaging at the University of Sussex  revealed that high multitaskers had less brain density in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region responsible for empathy as well as cognitive and emotional control.

Thus, overall it seems that multitasking reduces your efficiency and performance.  When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully.  The bottom line- Something suffers.

Just like all good things come to an end, so did my rationalization.  Something in me called my bluff.  I think of it as my observing self.  The moment I stopped multitasking I realized something that had only been in my subconscious awareness.  I was hungry!  Though I was semi-aware of this when I was multitasking, mostly “multisurfing” the web, it wasn’t until I stopped that the need surfaced to the point I could recognize it as a sensation requiring attention.  Realizing that attending to my physical needs rather than delaying a meal would be likely to make me more focused, I decided to proceed with eating.  It was not until I engaged mindful awareness of my overall experience that I focused in on a fairly important need that I had been ignoring.  I decided to cook and focus on that and leave my cell phone behind.  Well, at least until after I looked up a recipe!

I was thankful to have this insight today before the day got ahead of me. Later, when I meditated my revelation helped me to stay more focused.  I found myself embracing the adage when you are doing something, be there fully.  Show up for it!

To read further on how social media may be driving a wedge between us check out our take on Prince EA’s rap “Can We Autocorrect Humanity”

Access a free sample meditation to work on being more mindful: Click for meditation

For the month of February, join us on this 28 day Real Happiness journey. You will find resources at SharonSalzberg.com and MyMindfulWayofLife.com