Daily life occurs at a fast and furious pace. One cannot finish doing some task before ten other appear in the TO TO List. How good are you at multitasking?

As an analogy, I used to be able to keep track of ten planes (tasks), keeping them 1,000 feet apart without any problem. Like a juggler, I could keep ten plates spinning on sticks simultaneously, just adding a touch of momentum to each one to keep them spinning. Note that I said “used to.” As I age, I have found that, if I concentrate on one task at a time, I can accomplish it much more quickly and certainly in a better manner because I am focusing on one thing only. I note distractions that occur while I am doing that one thing so that I can follow-up later. But I put enough energy into that one thing so that it can be finished. Then I move on to the next task.

My To Do List helps me so I can see the overall needs of the day, but then I prioritize. During the day, my priorities may need changing. I can then adjust whatever and still stay on my list. Sometimes, tasks are added and deleted or moved to another day.

At the end of the day, I do not beat myself up because I have many things that are not finished. Sometimes, my daily To Do List becomes a weekly one, or a monthly one if need be.

But I can assure you that I get more done in less time than many others do. I maintain a calm, poised attitude most of the time and do not permit negative emotions to affect my activities.

This is not a fairy tale. I have spent years in chaos and mayhem. One has to learn to deal with it rationally so circumstances do not dictate your day.

So how about you? Are you willing to make some changes so you can actually do 1,000 tasks, one at a time, calmly and with attention to details without going crazy?