Multitask no more. Here's how to ditch it.

So last week I talked to you about how multitasking is really not uhm.. ideal? To put it lightly…

I am aware that I left you hanging with the fact that it “fries your brain” without telling you what you can really do about it.

This week let's change that.

Before I get into it however, I need to tell you something: If you’re looking for a simple 5-step-plan-flip-the-switch-to-a-new-life kind of thing, I’m not your girl.

In fact, you would really also not like me as a coach.

I shall not and will not back away from any path that bears the potential to be rocky. Actually, I am here for it.

If there’s one thing I can tell you for certain, it’s that nothing that’s worthwhile ever truly ever comes easy. And there’s a difference between saying that because you’ve walked through fire or because you read it on a bumper sticker somewhere.

I’m the fire kind of gal.

All that to say, real change starts by looking within. It starts by daring to FEEL what is there. Even if you want to change something as “small” as kicking your multitasking habit.

Because here’s the thing - our world runs on logic, analysis, projections, well thought out plans, and we collectively think being rational is the way to go even if our gut feeling is screaming at the top of its lungs waving a huge stop sign in the air.

Now while following that inner voice may still be scary when it comes to big decisions, it doesn’t have to be when it comes to small ones.

It all starts with this one thing:

AWARENESS.

Nobody wants to feel bad. But so often we do because we never learned how to truly assess how we feel, or whether we even like feeling like that and that’s how we’re denying ourselves to explore any other options.

Take someone who would describe their morning something like this:

“I have to use this time in the morning, pretty much right after I get up, to listen to the news while I have my coffee and get ready for the day, you know, make breakfast, put on make up, check my phone and clock to make sure I don’t miss the train. I simply won’t get to it later in the day, it’s always so chaotic.”

If I asked this (fictitious btw but very representative) person how they felt in their body during that morning or for the rest of the day, I’d bet a lot of money on them saying something like:

“I feel very dysregulated, not present, forgetful, kinda anxious sometimes? Annoyed because I feel like I can’t really get anything done? Ya know?”

Yes, fictitious person but also everyone sometimes, yes, I do know.

Aside from the fact that confronting your brain with a screen showing you a series of global catastrophes that we gently call “news” and flooding your system with caffeine that only spikes cortisol (maybe I’ll do a newsletter on a morning routine sometime?🤔) doing all of it at the same time just puts your nervous system in a frenzy that does not feel good.

So the first thing is to do exactly that: recognize what does not feel good.

That’s it.

Let it feel bad. In fact, really savor it, lean into it - recognize, whoa this feels like sh*it, do I really want to feel like this?

Why am I doing this to myself?

What am I really getting out of it?

I used to religiously listen to podcasts or “do work” on my phone while I was in public transportation even though it often just made me nauseous. So I ended up always rewinding on the podcast because I couldn’t focus.

Be honest, if you saw me do that, wouldn’t you just tell me to put my phone away?

Yeah…

Ok so, we know we don’t want to feel bad, then we recognize the moments we do.

Now comes the hardest part:

TAKE ACTION.

Do something else. Or more often, STOP doing something.

Don’t fill the gap with something “to be more productive”.

Once you learn to notice the bad feeling within, it serves as an alarm to then remove one or two actions you’re doing in the moment.

Here’s a challenge for you: Can you only do one thing at a time?

Walk to the bus. No headphones.

Write an email. No chat notifications.

Talk to your mom on the phone. No fluffing up the pillows.

And yes, I know that a couple weeks ago I told you to listen to music and dance while you’re doing the dishes to pump up the fun in your life (read it here). I stand by that because the aim here is to feel lightness, joy, fun, create a channel to be IN YOUR BODY not out of it.

This is the same thing.

I am not saying you are never allowed ever to take a walk and pop on headphones. I am saying to only do that if you can actually be present for it and it feels like you’re enjoying it (and not like maximizing time).

Let me ask you, who are you really doing it for?

Who are you living your life for when you’re doing 10 things at once and feel like crap while doing it? (Or not doing it, as per last week’s newsletter here, we know that we’re actually just doing all the things less efficiently and with more mistakes).

Who benefits from you feeling like sh*t inside?

No one, Love. No one.

Now the only thing that’s left is this:

REPEAT.

Keep noticing, keep coming back to only doing one thing and keep repeating that.

Mess up.

Feel bad.

Notice it.

Do it differently.

Repeat.

That’s what I mean with, “I’m not your 5 steps to happiness kinda gal”. There is no way around the daily (ideally gentle and loving, yes but likely with a couple potholes along the way) nudge from yourself towards true and lasting change.

It starts by feeling. Feel it to heal it.

And that can be the hardest thing to do. It can open floodgates.

But floodgates lead to transformation. And all of that can start just by wanting to show up for your life, remember how rich and full and wonderful it can be, not five but one action at a time…

If you're ready to start this journey for yourself, book a discovery call here.

Love,

Mel

🧡

Ps. All my newsletters are written by me, not AI (so please flag the typos). 😉

Pps. If you feel this message might land with someone you care about, and you feel called to pass it on, I’d be grateful. My mission is simply to let my words reach the hearts they’re meant to and support more people in living from their bodies not their heads. 🧡