It's been said that women are better at multi-tasking, and it's also been said that they really aren't. The activity she's talking about though is serial tasking. It's like the difference between BitTorrent and regular FTP file transferring (to use a rare tech analogy).
I'm not against serial tasking at all. I usually work this way, in fact. I do a little writing, which reminds me of a call to make, so I make it. Then I'll get my email and while it's downloading I glance at my calendar for the week. I see something on it that I need to prepare for so I make a note about that.
That also reminds me of something else I want to write about and I note that in my writing topic file. Then I go back to writing again. I find this keeps my mind engaged and less stressed. This also allows more cross pollination to happen, which gives me more ideas.
Although I'm doing a lot, I'm not rushing through it. This is key. For some people, leaping from task to task makes them feel like they're in a losing race and that's stressful. As always, it's also important to keep checking in and making sure your leaps haven't taken you too far afield of what you want to accomplish today.
Lessee....I have four online classes going as I write this. Wait I want to check wenxuecity to see if the counter is growing ...okay...now check the sitemeter to see who is logging in so I can write back..wait a comment from Claire...I always respond....no time like the present...but I have a window open for a new entry in my blog....there's a book on my desk that gives me ideas for my joke blog...I am waiting for the power editor to update so I can close that window...oops I dropped my Committee of 100 notebook of blog ideas that I am working from for my blog next week and beyond...okay! excuse, me the cute little coffee house girl said my tea is ready...I gotta go answer the email and reply to the comment that just came it....Gee, Claire, thanks for giving me something else to do 8-)
Posted by: panasianbiz | May 5, 2006 5:51 PM | Permalink to Comment