Managing multiple priorities is something we all have to learn how to do to some degree or another to live the life we really want to live. We all have multiple roles we play in life (i.e. mother, coach, business owner, web designer, writer, housekeeper, chief cook and bottle washer…my list goes on and on!) More often than not, the people and obligations associated with each role compete for our time and attention with varying degrees of patience and understanding.

While I am a big fan of multi-tasking, I don’t recommend doing it without a plan. Multi-tasking can burn you out, too - and FAST - so be smart about it!

Put your machines to work!

With all the technology at our disposal these days, I’m amazed we don’t really take full advantage of it! Get all your gizmos and gadgets busy!

For example, laundry. Since all we have to do these days is put the clothes in the machines, start the machines and walk away, laundry can be done while you’re doing almost anything else. If you have a washer and dryer, there’s really no good reason to have to climb ‘Mt. Laundry’ ever again. The time it takes to switch the loads from one machine to another, or to hang/fold a load of clothes is a good way to give yourself regular breaks (that you probably don’t remember to take!) from whatever else you’re doing. Skip the ironing (if you still do - I don’t!) and mending for now. We’ll get to those in a minute.

Use a crock pot to prepare meals. I have a friend who cooks almost exclusively with crock pots - she says it’s the closest thing to cloning herself she’s found to get dinner done.

Make your computer work while you do other things. You can burn backup CDs/DVDs while you weed the garden, run anti-virus scans while you enjoy movie night with the family, and download large files while you sleep.

These are just a few suggestions to get you thinking and planning. Yes, it takes a little forethought and organization, but when you see how much you and your technology can get done together, you’ll be amazed.

Use Each Resource - But Only One Job At A Time For Each!

For many people, the term ‘multi-tasking’ conjures up mental images of someone ‘doing’ 15 things at once. I have another friend who actually used to get in the car with her pajamas on, hot rollers in her hair and no makeup on, and by the time she arrived at her office, she was dressed (complete with pantyhose! …I know!), her hair was styled and her makeup flawless - all accomplished behind the wheel - I kid you not! That, my friends, is not multi-tasking - that’s a death wish! She had a ‘close call’ one day (are we surprised?) and finally gave up getting dressed on her morning commute.

Granted, my friend was an extreme case, but she was making what I consider to be the critical flaw in multi-tasking: using the same resource for more than one thing at a time. Let me explain.

We all hear time management tips like ‘keep a book with you and read while waiting in line, riding the train/bus to work, etc.’ - great idea! Keeps you busy, entertains you and gives you a chance to get a book read! Not such a good idea while driving to work, however. Why? Your eyes and hands already have a job, but your ears are free, so listen to an audio book, instead. Remember your ironing/mending? Another case of your eyes and hands already being busy, but your ears are free - so do it while you’re listening to a conference call or watching a favorite TV show. (That’s why I have a TV in my kitchen and a DVR - I record the few shows I like and then watch them while I’m cooking dinner, cleaning the kitchen or ironing my daughter’s school uniforms. I hardly ever watch a show while it’s actually airing!)

I confess I apply this principle while I’m coaching with my clients, too. Since I’m on the phone listening and talking to them (ears and mouth busy), I do quiet things like gather and sort laundry, pick up the house, and clean off my desk. I’m mindful with them while I get mindless things done. Oh, and you can bet the washer and dryer are going and my computer’s busy doing something, too.

And When You Can’t Multi-Task

You can always practice being present. Few people really know how to do it, amazingly enough. By being present, I mean concentrating exclusively on the task at hand. They say ‘time flies when you’re having fun’, and yes, it does, but have you ever thought about why? It’s because when you’re having fun, you’re likely totally present - totally absorbed - in the moment…each moment.

It’s only when we allow our minds to get out of the present moment that time slows down. So if what you’ve got before you is not ‘fun’, don’t give in to the temptation to concentrate on how ‘not fun’ it is, because that leads your mind to wishing you were in any moment but this one which is what really slows down the clock. A minute is QUICK when you’re completely present in it but extremely SLOW when you’re waiting for it to be some other minute.

Being present is the reward (or should be) for all your multi-tasking, anyway. With all we each have to do in a day, the goal of multi-tasking should be finding ways to put more of your resources to work at once so you can get more done - so you have more time to be present for and with the people you love and enjoy your life! Getting smart about the way you multi-task can actually make managing multiple priorities possible without losing your mind. What a concept, huh? Trust me, it’s worth it.