Note 003
As I’ve gotten older, especially over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed a shift in my mindset.
I can’t do what I used to do.
And honestly?
I don’t want to.
For example, I used to be the queen of multitasking.
I’d be cooking dinner while listening to a podcast.
Folding laundry while watching YouTube.
Cleaning the bathroom while mentally planning tomorrow.
Vacuuming while listening to someone’s advice about how to optimize my life.
You know, all the things we tell ourselves we’re supposed to do.
We’re being productive.
Making good use of our time.
Getting more done.
At least that’s what I thought.
A few years ago, I had a little health scare.
Nothing major, thankfully.
I was having some heart palpitations and other symptoms that got my attention. I went through the testing, wore the monitors, and everything came back fine.
But if you’re an overthinker, you already know what happened next.
The doctors stopped thinking about it.
I did not.
I analyzed.
I replayed.
I worried.
I investigated.
I had entire conversations with myself.
Then one day I was talking to my mom and said, “You know what? I think I’m just going to slow down.”
Not because anyone told me to.
Because I wanted to.
I realized I was constantly trying to do three things at once.
Cook dinner.
Do laundry.
Clean the kitchen.
Answer a text.
Listen to a podcast.
Learn something new.
Be productive.
And somehow relax at the same time.
No wonder I felt overwhelmed.
So I made a decision.
If I’m cooking, I’m cooking.
If I’m doing laundry, I’m doing laundry.
If I’m cleaning, I’m cleaning.
One task.
One moment.
One thing at a time.
And surprisingly, it wasn’t difficult.
It was a relief.
A huge relief.
I felt calmer.
Less stressed.
Less anxious.
And here’s the funny part.
I actually got more done.
Not less.
More.
Because I wasn’t mentally scattered across five different activities.
I was fully engaged in one.
What started in my daily chores slowly spilled into other areas of my life.
And now I’ve noticed something else.
I can no longer work while listening to a podcast or YouTube video.
I know people do it all the time.
But I can’t.
Soft jazz?
Sure.
Spa music?
Absolutely.
But if someone is talking, teaching, explaining, or sharing information, my brain wants to listen.
I want to understand it.
Learn from it.
Think about it.
And if I’m working, I want to focus on the work.
Finish the task.
Be present with what I’m doing.
For a while, I thought something was wrong with me.
Why can’t I listen and work like everyone else?
Then it hit me.
Maybe this is what people mean when they talk about living intentionally.
Maybe this is what being present actually looks like.
Not rushing through every moment.
Not consuming information every second of the day.
Not constantly splitting your attention.
Just being where you are.
Doing what you’re doing.
Experiencing the moment you’re in.
I think I finally get it now.
Presence isn’t about meditation cushions and perfect morning routines.
Sometimes it’s as simple as washing dishes while you’re washing dishes.
Listening while you’re listening.
Working while you’re working.
Living while you’re living.
A Note for Today
You don’t have to fill every moment. Sometimes being fully present in one thing is enough.
Until the next note,
Your Resident Overthinker