Back in February, I kicked off a multitasking series here at WU. I had been struggling with focus–even reading novel-length fiction had become a challenge–and I could easily point to multitasking as at least a part of the problem. No small problem, either; focus might be the most valuable asset we have as creative individuals. You know this, I know this, and yet we regularly find ourselves doing too much. Often, we aren’t sure what has happened with our hours, and every day seems the same. Lost time. Lost opportunities. Lost stories. One Groundhog Day after another and an endless winter of creative discontent.
For me, becoming incensed about something often leads to change. Once I read that multitasking had been linked with a reduction of brain matter, I became a little riled up. And from the outpouring of comments on that first post, you did as well.
Over the last several months, we’ve talked about the value of organizing your mind and desk, with hat tips to several valuable resources, including Diigo, Dropbox, and Pocket. We’ve explored Stephen Covey’s quadrant approach for managing time. We’ve discussed different kinds of attention, and the exhaustion of mind that sets in when too many things stake a claim on our time at once (Directed Attention Fatigue). We’ve talked about minimizing unnecessary thought-intruders.
[pullquote]Did you know. . .?
Five days away from email can improve focus.[/pullquote]
But we haven’t fully explored Attention Restoration Theory–the idea that you can find your way back to a more energized self.
Meditation, which we talked about last month via my interview with Leo Babauta, definitely falls under this category. Today, I’m going to wrap the series with a few additional powerhouse habits you might consider adopting, things that may help you with focus and energy, and counter the worst effects of multitasking.
Reconnect with Nature.
Once upon a time, five neuroscientists went on a canoeing trip in Utah to explore an idea. . . What would happen to their hopping minds when they were isolated, without the Internet, in the wilderness?
Turns out, they were antsy. Until the third day.
On the third day, the sense of urgency that had been gnawing at them, demanding that they get back to their phones and desks and waiting email, faded. They slept better, and felt far more relaxed and focused on the now. It’s what NPR reporter Matt Richtel, who joined the scientists, dubbed the three-day effect.
It seems that the part of the mind that is ever on the lookout for the Next Exciting Thing may be happy enough to focus on trees and birds and cattails and sunsets. And temporarily muting that jabbery, thrill-seeking part of the brain may be enough to help reconnect us with our lost energy stores.
While not everyone can take a three-day trip to the wild to reset themselves, or will want to, even a 50-minute walk can improve focus and energy.
Other things that may help quiet a busy mind:
- listening to music or even white noise
- using a treadmill desk
- doodling, or trying one of the new coloring books for adults
Track Reality in a Journal.
Do you know what’s happening to your lost hours, really?
Try maintaining a journal. Be accountable for your time, no fudging. It’s an eye-opening experience, and as you come to better understand your own nature, you’ll be able to create customized strategies.
Sleep, Writer, Sleep.
Folks who are sleep deprived have inferior daytime focus, and are more apt to spontaneously multitask rather than follow a plan.
And–writer beware–sleep-deprived folks are more apt to lean on tired cliches, according to director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center, Shelby Freedman Harris.
How about them apples?
—
Know your nature. Connect with nature. And nurture yourself. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?
And that, my dear WU’ers, is the end of the multitasking series. I want to thank all who encouraged me to go ahead with this. I believe that knowledge is power, and working through these articles has helped me to live with more awareness. I hope the articles have helped you as well.
Have a refill-the-tank trick? A habit that has helped you to maintain your focus and energy? Please share in comments.
Until next month, write on.
PREVIOUS IN SERIES:
Monotasking: The Forgotten Skill You (and I) Need to Re-Claim, ASAP
Snakes on a Brain (Multitasking Series, part 2)
No Time to Write? Maximize Your Minutes (Multitasking Series, part 3)
About Therese Walsh
Therese Walsh (she/her) co-founded WU in 2006 and is the site's editorial director. She was the architect and 1st editor of WU's only book, Author in Progress, and orchestrates the WU UnConference. Her second novel, The Moon Sisters, was named one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and Book Riot; and her debut, The Last Will of Moira Leahy was a Target Breakout Book. Sign up for her newsletter to be among the first to learn about her new projects (or follow her on BookBub). Learn more on her website.
Great series, Therese. Aha, that’s why our completely electronic-less camping trips are so refreshing! We are totally cut-off. No cell phones, nothing. We didn’t get our son one until last summer and he didn’t call us a Luddite for nothing, but we’ve not missed the gadgets. Our best investment has been living in a safe neighborhood and a dog.
I find it a little bit funny that the wisdom of my mother has to be proven scientifically. I always had my nose buried in a book and even she had to throw me out of the house to get some fresh air, for which I shall be eternally grateful. Playing out on the streets with my friends was a good thing, even if we chasing the mosquito truck …
Speaking of all good things, it is time to head out for that walk before it gets too hot and then corral the kids to go for Adoration. Writing and Mozart on the agenda for later. It’s looking good. Have a fabulous day.
I like these suggestions, Therese. Don’t laugh, I walk alfresco in circles to break out, relax, and re-energize. There’s something about having no destination and swinging my arms that sets me free.
Thank you so much for writing this series, T. As you know, I struggled with a lot of the same focus issues. It may be a coincidence, but since you started posting these articles I DID write the last third of my manuscript and have nearly finished with the final polish rounds before sending it off to beta readers. That’s huge, and it was all about making more conscious choices.
The Carrot app was a great suggestion. Now my to-do list is with me, rather than on Outlook. It’s funny how motivated I am to cross things off when that screen goes black and I’m told I’ve been useless for a day!
I’ll get to reconnect with nature soon, which will help. Sleep is one I need to work on. :-/
Kim, I agree. I try to avoid angering Carrot. So glad you’re enjoying the app!
Therese–
What you’re doing in this series is arguably as important as anything that is being given to Writer Unboxed readers. Yes, craft advice matters, yes, marketing matters, yes, everyone needs a good laugh and inspiration. But you are focusing on consciousness itself, and how our brains are affected by the new demands made on them.
Here’s a clarion call of my own to those who read Writer Unboxed: please urge Therese Walsh to pursue this project, to shape it into a book. Such a published work would, in my view, matter to us all.
Barry, if I ever take the leap and turn this into a book, you will be named in the acknowledgments. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and encouragement. I agree with you that it’s an important issue.
“Folks who are sleep deprived have inferior daytime focus, and are more apt to spontaneously multitask rather than follow a plan.”
Oh, I just proved this one to be true yesterday. :P Honestly, I *can* tell the difference in my ability to focus and stay disciplined when I’ve slept well or haven’t.
Thanks for all this great information and useful tips, Therese! I’ve really enjoyed this series, and have successfully incorporated a 2-min meditation into my life since you posted about it. Maybe I’ll work my way up to 5 min or 10 min or more someday!
That’s fantastic to hear, Kristan! Omm on? ;-)
I remember when the term multi-tasking became a fixture in the lexicon. I was a single mom, so I truly got it. And I couldn’t wait to not have to do so much of it, because honestly, I never really got anything done (my alleged novel consisted of scraps of napkins, backs of receipts and pages torn out of notebooks). Your suggestions hit home with me, especially the one about reconnecting with nature. I have 11 acres of woods behind me, which I visit several times a day. Walking and talking (yes, to myself, put loud) helps me figure out story problems. Meditation is another amazing tool, although I struggle with sitting down to it. But when I do with some consistency, I notice a quiet in my head, and more space in my life. For me, the gold lives in that space.
The other thing you mention that has become so important to me is sleep. My dad used to take 20-minute cat naps to re-charge. I do it now, too, when I can. Often its the difference between a lost afternoon and another three hours of writing. Thank you for talking about this. I’m with Barry. This is book-worthy stuff.
Love the idea of golden space, Susan. Thanks for that.
Really? Attention Restoration Theory? And it’s acronym just happens to be ART. Go figure.
This has been hugely helpful, and I’ll vote with Barry on your shaping it into a book, but only if you’ll promise to finish that other one, already in progress, first. It’s more than a selfish demand; the world also needs more T. Walsh fiction.
I do know my nature. The problem is, I turn my back on self-awareness. I always know when I’m frittering my time away, and I’ve been guilty lately. And, for me, there’s always an underlying cause – something I’m avoiding. (It’s usually rooted in fear.) The worst part about looking back on such hours, and days, is they lack passion. Who wants to live without passion?
And I’m like you: realization riles me. I’ve been riled. Just yesterday, in fact. The hand-wringing and avoidance is ended. The doc has words on it now. I got plenty of sleep, and Gidge and I are on our way out the door for an hour’s walk as soon as I hit “submit comment.” Then I take charge of my hours and days, and direct my energy back to my passion. Thanks for this series, and for everything else, T!
I second what Vaughn says about finishing the WIP before anything else, T. It’s going to be amazing. A book on multi-tasking would be great, of course, but only if YOU feel compelled to write it. ;-)
Spot on, V. And I’m glad you gave fear the smack down it deserved; you have a legion of fans already, waiting to read your book! Thanks, too, for the encouragement. Much appreciated.
All so true, Therese. A teen-age friend and I have been working on a short story for a local writing contest using his plot idea, which is completely out of my comfort zone. Only away from email, twitter, Facebook, etc., did the ending to the story come to me. In my sleep. Some ideas that come to me in my dreams do not work, but this one works. Thanks for talking about this. Barry’s idea for a book is a great one. Because even now that we know what to do, we will still need reminders.
That’s exciting, Barbara. I’ve had some interesting story twists come to me while on the edge of sleep, too. It’s amazing what happens when we’re away from the daily chaos.
I second (and third…) walking and sleep (just not at the same time). Also, it’s amazing how much better I sleep if I’m in bed by ten. And the next morning I can get up early and have a nice long day ahead of me.
Thanks for the posts.
These are great suggestions. I always spend some portion of the year in the woods, where I cannot count on internet or phone service.
I kept a time journal for the last two months (April and May), tracking where every bit of my time went. It took a week or two to pin down the most useful buckets (i.e., categories). Then every few weeks I analyzed the results.
I thought I’d been careful and mindful about how I spent my time, but was still surprised by some of the results. What a useful exercise! I was able to make some changes during the two months and am now working to consolidate some new and better habits.
Thanks for this series!
That’s excellent progress, Barbara! The gap between how we think we’re spending our time and reality is stunning, no?
A few years ago, we rented a cabin by the lake in New Hampshire for two weeks. I still had to work, so I went to the library for about 2-3 hours a day but after that I was free to do whatever I wanted. I walked, went swimming, took photos, cooked, and read and read and read. I also slept like a baby.
I was hesitant at first to go somewhere without any phone or internet connection because I had to work. However, those three hours I spent in the library were used to work. Not for social media or to surf the web. I was there to respond to emails that were work related and that was it.
This post is a great reminder of how productive and focused I was during my three-hour allotted time.
If we all spent even three hours a day focused on our fiction, can you imagine how much we’d accomplish over the course of a year?
Therese,
I am so grateful for your series. I’m keeping all the segments to reread, because there is so much helpful advice here, and sometimes I feel so overwhelmed. One of the most soothing aspects of your series is to know that I’m not alone in feeling this, that it’s a very human reaction to the circumstances of modern life, and that there are solutions. I just want to hug you.
Yesterday, I went back in time a little bit. I took a trip to the local drugstore and bought a mechanical pencil, and a pocket memo book with a calendar and lots of note pages. Although I have all the tech gear for memos and calendars and notes, I find that when I write something on an actual piece of paper, it seems to center me, calm me down, and prepare me for the tasks ahead. There is nothing as rewarding as seeing lead form words on actual paper, and then carrying that paper around in your pocket is a sorta flashlight guide (at least for me).
I was also really excited that you referred to Stephen Covey. I know it sounds dramatic to say a book changed one’s life, but by practicing The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I went from an overwhelmed with life person who wanted to write a book, to completing manuscripts. I am happy to be reminded of that, and I am currently rereading the book.
Thanks again for all the research, time and hard work you’ve put in and shared with this series. It is truly life-affirming and life-changing information.
Bernadette, first, sending you a hug back. And I agree with you about real paper, real pencils, seeing your own handwriting–when things flow, when they become tense in the markings. Covey’s approach is brilliant, and life-changing for me as well. Thanks for commenting!
Great post, Therese! I’m so guilty of letting social media and email disrupt my flow. I really like your suggestion of tracking my time spent. I’ll start that today! I’m hoping I find ways to be more productive during focus time.
Therese. Trying to nurture my focus I’ve developed a habit that’s like a visit to the shrink’s office with no travel and no cost. Julia Cameron wrote a best-seller. The Artist’s Way. I’ve been using her technique on how to say focused on your “creative mission.” I do three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing in the morning. I can’t read it back, not legible. Doesn’t matter. It’s out of my head. A freeing experience.
Valuable post. Thanks.
Great tip, Nanette, thank you.
Thanks for the series, Therese. Two and a half years ago I moved to the city and I miss my long afternoon walks in the woods with a dog. (With two toddlers I now also have to deal with less sleep!) We hope to eventually move to the country or a small town so our kids can grow up with more nature and less technology. For now I need to review your multi-tasking posts and make some positive changes in my daily routine. Thanks again!
Loved these posts, T. All good stuff.
You ask for tricks… I keep two lists: ‘the big stuff’ like finishing the last chapter of my WIP or painting my office, and ‘the little stuff’ like booking a hair cut or signing kid’s school forms. My first hour every day is spent doing the little stuff. By completing the little things I can tackle the big stuff with more focus and less guilt. A trick of the mind, I know, but it works for me.
Dee Willson
Author of A Keeper’s Truth and GOT
I like that, Denise: little stuff first. I do something similar; there’s something to building momentum, seeing all of those accomplished tasks. It sets the tone for the rest of the day. Thanks for commenting!
Great post. My husband and I are fortunate to be able to walk almost every day. We do 2 miles or more. Often we talk, often we don’t. That gives the mind a chance to roam. Sometimes it just listens to the birds, sometimes it is planning what will happen the moment I’m back at my desk. But it is true that we need breathing space in life and being tied to devices does not allow that. It hinders creativity, it hinders YOU being the one to decide what comes next–not someone’s ad or email.
Sleepy writers lean on tired cliches.
Thank you for your series of articles. They are important for all of us.
Thanks for amazing advice, Therese.
Listening to the white noise to quite a busy mind…That’s interesting techinique. Has anyone tried it?
Pimion, I have. I use a set of noise-canceling headphones with white noise, and it’s incredibly focusing for me.
This was a great series, Therese, I enjoyed exploring a topic as fundamental to being a writers as craft and marketing. Keeping that balance so that we move forward but do so with our entire foundation in check. My trick is simple: whenever I feel stilted, stop, reassess, breathe. I’ve devised my writing routine to target days of the week where I switch into an intentionality to write vs. targeting specific time slots where I have to write no matter what. This is how my typical writing day (Saturday or Sunday) looks: get up, enjoy a walk, go to a coffee shop, read a bit, open the manuscript, enjoy my coffee and enjoy just being able to sit at the keyboard and stare knowing there’s no rush while the wheels get started; enjoy that moment that always arrives where the writing gears start turning and story starts happening; spend time time with family and friends, always keeping my story in the back of my mind; enjoy those many sessions where I can open up my computer and write; go to bed satisfied. I used to force my life around my writing and that led to stilted prose. Now that I drape my writing around my life, I find I’m connecting to more organic things that stay on the page, and problem solving time isn’t like pulling teeth–it’s quite cathartic.
“I used to force my life around my writing and that led to stilted prose. Now that I drape my writing around my life…”
Love that, John. Thanks so much.
Thanks for the series Therese.
You have provided all these useful tips that we can incorporate as writers and frankly speaking human beings to live more meaningful lives. I love the idea of tracking the social media usage. It is such an addiction and time drain. Just yesterday I was thinking of making a timetable which would include 15 min twice a day for social media catch up. More than anything, I believe that your series has had us thinking about this subject in a disciplined manner (rather than, I wonder where the day went!!!)
A week back, I downloaded a couple mindfulness (buddhify) and meditation (relax lite) apps on my iPhone. These have been very useful in helping me restore my focus. Buddhify is neat as it sort of talks you through being mindful in any activity of your life: cooking, driving, chores, waking up, about to sleep, just entering home, being online and so on… (I have been turning it on when I cook and do chores. Just a 5 min exercise that you can repeat as many times as you want). Just helps you stay in the moment and mindful. So you don’t have to take time out to meditate. The relax lite I have used twice as it is more traditional meditation app, but I use it whenever I can spare time to meditate. Some easy techniques for the WU-ers to try?
Priya, that’s great to hear, thank you. I’ve also downloaded a few meditation apps; they’re different but all seem truly valuable.
Therese, I’m a model of one of your strategies today: the last three days have been excruciatingly frustrating, ticketed to travel and not having the shuttle pick me and my girlfriend up, causing a cascade of consequences: nonrefundable tickets, big cash outflow to fix, our house-sitter thrown off, the place where we’re supposed to be house-sitting having their schedule tilted.
And then arriving, and my email won’t work, me bloodshot-eyeballed, on a deadline, muttering and ranting. But this afternoon, an eye-bathing walk through a nearby public refuge, all tangled-limbed banyan trees, fire-arrows in the flame trees, fragrant flowers on a breezy winding trail. Ahhh.
Sanity restored.
Thanks so much for the series—it’s been a many-limbed banyan tree of goodness.
Hey T,
My journey to this article was actually an example of this article in motion. I had tons to do, tons to focus on, needed rest, yadayadayada, until I could get here and make one of my usual brilliant comments. So I had to force myself to prioritize (not that you were low priority, but time-wise, other things needed addressing, first). And yes, a nap was pretty high on the totem pole. I don’t think I got enough sleep, though, because I’m relying on cheap cliches.
You know, when you called that day, I had been feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders and had sort of taken the same kind of excursion as the neuroscientists, I just didn’t purposefully do it. I needed a break from the webernet. At first I was antsy…my stomach in knots about things that beckoned…but I had multitasked until I could multitask no more. Life interrupted and I needed to put all my energies into that (and still am). A couple days passed–some fresh air and sunshine–and then the days flew. I didn’t even realize I’d been gone that long until the phone rang (thanks for that, btw).
Yeah, I’m still focused on offline things — real world family stuff — but that’s getting back in place and I’m fitting my writing stuff back in. Thanks for all these links, for all the research and time you took for us. I’ve bookmarked this article. Something tells me I’ll need to reference it every now and then.
Write on…to the rainbow socks. ;)
Walking, sleeping, morning pages or other journaling, meditation… and BATHS. Baths are amazing for my head space. :)