Multitasking should be strictly avoided, believes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
Why do I say thisIJ Don’t we do things deliberately or carefullyIJ Sorry, the answer is no. WhyIJ Deliberate over the following facts. If all students listened attentively to what is taught in classes, there will not be so many inferior students. Same goes for lectures attended by grown-ups. Do they remember all that is saidIJ They even try to talk in between. What about accidentsIJ They mostly happen when our minds are elsewhere. Now cellphones have made the situation worse. Workers in factories operating machines hurt themselves seriously when their attention falters. Forget factories and roads, we hurt ourselves in our homes when we go about doing routine activities absent-mindedly.
We lose things because while storing them our minds are elsewhere. These days it has become a practice to eat in front of the TV. Is it a good practiceIJ Do we honour the food so carefully cooked for usIJ If we pay attention to what we eat and do so deliberately or slowly, our digestion will be much better. We will also not overeat because the stomach gives signal to stop, which we fail to notice. If this is bad, what about choking on foods and drinksIJ Does it make any senseIJ Same goes cooking. Many spoil food by allowing their minds to wander.
Then, many of us who worship God like chanting or doing meditation will reap much greater benefit if our minds are on what we are doing. Having spent so much quality time on an activity like this, it is a shame that we don’t take full advantage of it. lastly, when the concentration wavers, like that of a batsman approaching 100 in cricket, he gets out because he stops focusing on playing and begins meditating about all the kudos he will get upon scoring a century.
Can we now agree that if we do things carefully or deliberately we will be much better off. Needless to say, we will remember what is told to us. At least there will be a possibility that we will be able to do so. Others appreciate if we listen to them carefully. We will not hurt ourselves unnecessarily. Sportspersons who keep their concentration generally excel or do not make silly mistakes. We will do everything we do well because doing anything deliberately is what concentration is all about. By the way, no work is unimportant otherwise why would we be doing that in the first placeIJ We will be able to experience the beauty of nature if our minds are not preoccupied. This will add to our enjoyment of life.
Now we come to the premier benefit. By doing things deliberately, we will not stress our minds so much. Our minds will get relief when we do routine activities like taking a bath. We overstress our minds when we continuously think about something considered important by us. You will agree that no problem can be so important that it should occupy our attention all the time. We will be getting a lot of help in preventing damage done by fears, anxieties, when the mind is engaged elsewhere, ie upon routine activities, which are not stressful at all. And if the attention is not on the body all the time, we will do it a lot of favour; our immunity will get a chance to work uninterruptedly and without interference.
How do we make a habit of this highly beneficial traitIJ Begin doing everything deliberately right from the morning as if your life depended upon it. Test check several times during the day if you are following this wonderful rule. Finish one activity before taking up another. Multitasking, about which many of us pride ourselves, should be strictly avoided; it is not worth it. There should be a strong desire to develop this habit, which is possible if we remember all the benefits we will derive by doing so. And if we are able to achieve this task, we will be able to control our minds to a great extent — one of the main goals of the human life. I welcome your comments.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com