What would it be like to do one thing at a time?
My kids’ school was closed last week, so I took time off work to take them to a couple museums then go skiing together over the weekend. I enjoyed it far more than other kid-centered vacations over the past few years. Part of that is because they are getting more independent so it’s easier to wrangle them.
But the biggest change is that I focused on being with them. I didn’t try to work or do emails or read something. I didn’t feel like there was something else I “should” be doing because I cleared my schedule and decided that everything else could wait. And it was a much more pleasant experience for me, and for them because I wasn’t constantly distracted or resentful.
I’ve heard the mindfulness advice for years to be fully present to what you are doing, rather than being distracted. I rarely followed it as I thought that I should be multi-tasking and staying on top of everything. But I’m trying to embrace that present focus more this year and it’s leading to greater calmness despite the volatile reality we are all living through.
What would you choose if you were to focus on getting one thing done today? Can you spend 30 minutes focusing on that without distractions?
If so, pay attention to how it feels to let yourself focus.
If not, what is getting in the way of that focus time, and what can you do to address those distractions?