Multi-tasking?

“Are you busy?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t keep you then.”

“It’s OK, I can multi-task.”

I have had some version of this conversation before and I always find it very amusing.  Whether it is over the computer or over the phone, no sooner than someone says these words I feel like I am being ignored, or only half listened to.  I’m not quite sure if anyone is actually good at multi-tasking but a lot of people claim to be.  I, on the other hand, am not and am not afraid to admit it.

Going back as far as I can remember, I have not been able to focus on more than one thing at a time.  I can not watch TV and talk on the phone.  If ever I try to do that, you will know it, b/c I will get silent except for the occasional uh-huh I throw out to create the appearance I am in fact listening.  My sister and my mom have always been pros at identifying when I am watching TV while talking to them and immediately offer to “let me go.”  I finally learned after years of attempting it that I can not study or write while listening to music.  I end up singing along and learning lyrics instead of accomplishing any work.  Lately I have discovered that I seem to even have trouble handling both Facebook and Twitter.  As I have immersed myself in the land of Tweets I find myself neglecting my facebook world.  And for me when I take out my cell phone, I must stop everything.  Only in serious times have I ever attempted to dial and drive.

I guess at times it would be helpful if I had this ability to keep numerous balls in the air.  I know that there is a lot on my plate and a lot I’d like to see arrive there.  If some of my desires manifest, it might even require me to learn this skill.  But for now, I quite enjoy putting my focus on one thing at a time.  I think getting in the zone is necessary and its hard to do that when you are constantly interrupted by pings and buzzers of all kinds.  When I am in the zone, I hear my voice, the real voice, the one that matters most and directs me to the right places.  If my mind is cluttered with too many things, all I hear are those monkeys screeching and demanding and those guys don’t seem to get me anywhere.