Once a ‘multi-tasker extraordinaire’, I’m slowing down. Keeping more than one ‘plate spinning’ or ‘ball in the air’ is becoming increasingly difficult This disturbing realisation has triggered memories of times gone by when I could almost effortlessly keep lots of plates spinning, lots of balls in the air, at the one time.
Oh, for the days when, as a busy high school teacher, I could prepare and run five or six classes a day, answering myriad questions by students, remembering all their names and where they were up to with their due assignments, attend staff meetings after school and then shop for and hold a dinner party for six friends that evening.
‘Back in the day’, I could ‘rush’ to finish things, lift and carry items without pain, get into my car in one easy move. I could clean the house ready for a dinner party in what seems now like ‘a single bound’.
The thought of having a dinner party now fills me with dread!
These days, about the best I can do is have washing ‘on the go’ in the washing machine, dishes soaking in the kitchen sink to make them easier to wash, while I simultaneously make a telephone call. Even that makes me feel exhausted and ready for a nanny-nap!
I’m not sure if anyone has noticed, I haven’t submitted a story since August’s ‘Right Here, Right Now’, topic. My excuse? My growing inability to multi-task.
A fascinating writing related project has been absorbing me for the past three months and I’ve been finding it more difficult than I did even a year ago to change my focus to other writing projects, to work on more than one writing project simultaneously.
A number of factors, alongside normal ageing, may be influencing this. Is it a sign of early dementia? Is a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by chronic asthma and pulmonary disease making thinking and problem solving more difficult? Or, have I quietly had the odd ‘transient ischemic attack’ and slight brain injury as a result? Addressing these and other issues would involve a diary replete with medical and hospital visits – yet more plates to attempt to keep spinning at once!
Strategies to successfully spin more plates again are in order. Any suggestions?
I’m grieving this loss of capacity to multi-task. The stages of bewilderment and anger have passed, I’m now grudgingly accepting the grim reality that I will never be able to so effortlessly multi-task again.
On the bright side…, I made it here today after managing to write this story following a morning Zoom meeting.
I must admit, though… the washing is still in the washing machine, the dishes are still soaking in the sink, I’m feeling exhausted and ready for a nanny nap!
Bev Lee
November 2020
Oh, for the days when, as a busy high school teacher, I could prepare and run five or six classes a day, answering myriad questions by students, remembering all their names and where they were up to with their due assignments, attend staff meetings after school and then shop for and hold a dinner party for six friends that evening.
‘Back in the day’, I could ‘rush’ to finish things, lift and carry items without pain, get into my car in one easy move. I could clean the house ready for a dinner party in what seems now like ‘a single bound’.
The thought of having a dinner party now fills me with dread!
These days, about the best I can do is have washing ‘on the go’ in the washing machine, dishes soaking in the kitchen sink to make them easier to wash, while I simultaneously make a telephone call. Even that makes me feel exhausted and ready for a nanny-nap!
I’m not sure if anyone has noticed, I haven’t submitted a story since August’s ‘Right Here, Right Now’, topic. My excuse? My growing inability to multi-task.
A fascinating writing related project has been absorbing me for the past three months and I’ve been finding it more difficult than I did even a year ago to change my focus to other writing projects, to work on more than one writing project simultaneously.
A number of factors, alongside normal ageing, may be influencing this. Is it a sign of early dementia? Is a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by chronic asthma and pulmonary disease making thinking and problem solving more difficult? Or, have I quietly had the odd ‘transient ischemic attack’ and slight brain injury as a result? Addressing these and other issues would involve a diary replete with medical and hospital visits – yet more plates to attempt to keep spinning at once!
Strategies to successfully spin more plates again are in order. Any suggestions?
I’m grieving this loss of capacity to multi-task. The stages of bewilderment and anger have passed, I’m now grudgingly accepting the grim reality that I will never be able to so effortlessly multi-task again.
On the bright side…, I made it here today after managing to write this story following a morning Zoom meeting.
I must admit, though… the washing is still in the washing machine, the dishes are still soaking in the sink, I’m feeling exhausted and ready for a nanny nap!
Bev Lee
November 2020
RSS Feed
