Marisa Constantinides – TEFL Matters
Language Teaching, Teacher Education & New Technologies
Multitasking or “making a hole in the water”?
Blog post August 18th, 2010
I have neglected this blog and this post is by way of apologising to my readers but here was my day – the list below repeats itself day in day out with some changes, but that’s a standard day…Here is the story today:
- Ran input sessions in the morning from 9-1
- Observed teaching practices after lunch
- Discussed lessons and gave feedback
That, in fact, was the very best part of my day as I was focussed on one thing at a time.
Then the multi-tasking began involving 3-4 of the items on my list at any given moment:
- Writing Teaching Practice reports for my CELTA trainees
- Marking assignments for same
- Organising tomorrow’s visit by the DELTA external assessor
- Making last minute flight changes for the CELTA assessor who is coming next week – who also wants a vegetarian meal…
- Organising two alternative online class spaces for a group of online trainees tomorrow
- Answering trainee email about references, assignments, lesson plans
- Giving information about courses over the phone – making arrangements for tests, interviews, payments
- Chatting to tutors who pop into my office – how can I say ‘go away’….
- Writing (or trying to) finish an article which somehow does not seem to be able to get past the first few paragraphs…
- Trying to track down than certificate which I paid registered post rates to send and which my student has not received yet; calling the post office; getting some nothing information; being told I have to appear personally and fill in an application by hand; can’t do that via email, no, they have to see my face…
- Sneaking guilty looks on twitter; opening 25 windows to look at all the links and not having time to really check even half of them properly
- Finding a most excellent link or resource; rushing to de.licious it or quick to rush to our wiki to share with trainees; occasional quick shares on facebook…
- Reading a most excellent blog post and not having time to respond properly….OK, I’ll stay up late and do it
Then a dear friend calls and says, shall we have lunch together sometime, meet for a drink, or have you disappeared inside that screen. I say, I can’t possibly, can’t you hear the background noise, it’s the pixels….
Multitasking or “making a hole in the water” (Greek saying)?
N.B. The image in this post is royalty-free from http://www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/52660.html
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11 Comments to “Multitasking or “making a hole in the water”?”
Hello Marisa! Unfortunately, one gets used to multitasking but it shouldn’t be like that! I do my best not to miss social meetings but then I know I’ll have to cut down on my sleeping hours. What I don’t know is if I’d be able to live a quiet life. I’m used to doing lots of things but I do what I like and that’s priceless.
Let’s try to keep in harmony amidst chaos.
Regards,
Marisa
“Harmony in chaos” is a good goal… I like it and am trying hard to achieve it, at least for the benefit of my trainees
Thanks dear Marisa
Um, yup… people keep talking about multi-tasking with tsk, tsk noises and poopooin’ that it’s affecting our brains, that it’s nonsense that it’s making us less efficient… yet I know, personally, that I am simply not as efficient when I am doing lots of things at the same thing.
Two or three easy things that don’t require the same parts of my brain, sure, why not… but um – when they all require the same (e.g. listen to someone on the phone and listen to the radio = nyet) totally understand the 25 open window drama and it’s usually my computer that says “er, hallo, I don’t want to work anymore” which should tell me something, rather…
Sure, I can listen to the radio and blog at the same time but that’s because the hiphop or trivialpop provides a beat… but if I’m writing something more serious, I will listen to something I “don’t hear”…
But when I begin a day by turning on Twitter or Facebook I get distracted and that turns into procrastination.
It’s only by being rigid and doing it outside of working-from-home time (and not in class) that I am to be efficient.
Go to lunch!
Ahh dear Karenne, I was just having a good moan…
I know there are others out there too having the same problem.
I will go to lunch this weekend, I promise! I will even take Shelly and go to the beach and chill out. We both need it!
A hug
Oh Marisa! Making me feel terribly guilty for having nothing to do this month. Yay for holidays! But I hear you loud & clear! Most of the year is like that for me, between teaching, admin stuff at school & then there’s my volunteer work & family life. But I enjoy the adrenalin, makes me feel alive! But you also need some time for yourself. Let’s have a #nightshift one of these nights & we can even invite “Al” over to join us!
Lots of luv,
Anna
PS1: 3rd attempt at posting this – can’t get anti-spam word right. Feels like I’m about to fail a test.
PS2: Going on 4th attempt…oh lordie lord!
I like the adrenalin too, it’s just that kind of time when there’s too much of it and it’s beginning to poison the system!!! Aargh!
Hadn’t we said we were going to come and join you in Porto? What nerds!!! Here we are toiling away in air-conditioned rooms in hot Athens instead of sunning ourselves in gorgeous blue seas drinking margharitas and having not a single serious thought in our heads!!
Next year fingers crossed
Love and hugs
Dear Marisa
This is my 3rd attempt at writing this message. The first time I misread the anti-spam word, and just now I pressed publish without writing the word and all my comment was deleted. Aghh! Anyway, I am absolutely determined to rewrite it again before I continue with my list of tasks for the day…..
Firstly, I do sympathise with what you have written and I think multitasking has become the word of the moment, as we all seem to be doing so much in such a short amount of time. I feel it is necessary to slow down whenever possible and just do what we can do within our own “comfort zone”. We are all in the same boat, so to speak.
You must go out for lunch, dear Marisa, before the pixels do overtake your life. You need something to look forward to amongst the hectic pace of your very busy working day. I know, this is easy to say, but very difficult to put into practice. I am trying to work out a healthy work-lifestyle balance myself, and the feeling of “missing out” does play on my mind at times. I agree with Karenne that being strict with time and sticking to a time limit when doing a task, is very helpful.
Thank you very much for sharing your innermost thoughts with us all. Your words will resonate with many people from all walks of life and hopefully sharing is therapeutic for you as well.
btw, I loved your “chickies are taking over Elluminate!” comment during my RSCON10 presentation. It really made my day! They have certainly taken over my life in a most enjoyable way, and I have freshly laid eggs for breakfast every morning, which peps me up for the range of jobs I have to do for the rest of the day.
Keep on smiling, dear Marisa
The pixels have taken over right now but am hoping against all hope that I will be able to get a short break in the first week of September.
Can I come and help you collect those chickies’ eggs please? Sounds like paradise to me right now…
Hi Marisa
I do hope you will be able to get away in September. It would be lovely if you could come and help me collect the 5 eggs a day:)
I have highlighted your post on my blog as one which has particularly made me reflect. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
Marisa: What a beautiful picture you’ve chosen to illustrate your post…I felt identified by what you’ve written there…I mean I’m not the only one trying to do many things at the same time!
If you’d like to laugh just a bit you can take your time to read what the “incompetent politician” says about Multitasking, a bit ironic, though:
http://thepoliticianstrip.blogspot.com/2010/06/multi-tasking.html
Ah, thanks for a good laugh dear Mirian… just having a good moan as I’ve already said… Feel better already for having done it.