Dr. Laura Forsyth ~ Cognitive Behavior Therapy & ADHD Counseling for Adults
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Your Brain on Multitasking

2/14/2019

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Years ago, when my kids were little, I thought it might be cute to get a sticker for my minivan that read "MultiTasking Mommy", or better - a personalized license plate, but couldn't make it work with 7 characters. After further thought, I realized that announcing that I could be multitasking while driving with children in car was more terrifying than funny. But my tendency to try to multitask didn't go away. I'm not alone. 

We live in Distractionlandia, with a thousand things clamoring for our attention - certainly from that device in your pocket if not from the back seat of your car. The pull to do 2, 3, 4+ things at once is ever-present, including for those of us who are supposed to know better. We multitask with and without awareness of doing so. Some people claim that they're more effective when multitasking. I used to be one of those people, but not any more. 

While I still find myself multitasking all too often, it does help to understand what's really going on in the brain. Notice, refocus on one thing at a time. Notice, refocus. Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Dr. Sanjay Jupta, a truly great explainer, on multitasking. 
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Downshift breathing

3/31/2016

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From the esteemed Andrew Weil, MD, a breathing exercise that activates your parasympathetic nervous system, counterbalance to our usually-way-too-active sympathetic nervous system (producer of the famous fight/fight/freeze response). Dr. Weil prescribes four rounds of 4-7-8 breathing to shift out of tension into calm and even sleep. 
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Instructions for everyday peace of mind 

3/23/2016

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Picture

​In the midst of what is surely the most bizarre election season in living memory, perhaps it would be helpful to review some old advice on how to maintain one's mental stability when it seems that the world really is in the handbasket, headed down to a very hot place.

And by old, I mean old.  The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are presumed to be at least 1,600 years old, maybe more. Yet the advice in Sutra 1:33 about how to not get all freaked out by what other people do or say feels quite fresh and relevant.  

From Christopher Isherwood's translation:
Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked.
and T.K.V. Desikachar explains Sutra 1:33 like this:
In daily life we see people around who are happier than we are, people who are less happy. Some may be doing praiseworthy things while others are causing problems. Whatever our usual attitude toward such people and their actions  may be, if we can be pleased with others who are happier than ourselves, compassionate toward those who are unhappy, joyful with those doing praiseworthy things, and remain undisturbed by the errors of others, our mind will be very tranquil.
Notice the term "cultivate" in the first quote.  That's a reminder that growth takes effort and attention over a period of time. It's worth it, though, since friendliness is the antidote to jealousy, compassion allows us to be supportive rather than judgmental, delight lifts us up when envy or comparing ourselves to others drags us down and indifference (not paying too much attention) frees us from getting worked up with worry or outrage.

And if at first, you don't succeed, no worries - there will always be plenty of opportunities to practice!
Photo:Jubair1985
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    Author


    Welcome to my very occasional blog:
    ​Productive Distractions

    Since we all get distracted (some of us more than others), let's make it useful.

    However, just in case, are you one of those people who can fall down the rabbit hole and lose hours online? 

    If so, welcome, fellow traveler! 

    Now, do yourself a favor. 

    Right now, before you do anything else, grab a sticky note & write down what you're looking for, or how long you're going to spend, or what it is that you're really supposed to be doing.  

    Next, note the time you will stop and get back on task - write big numbers! 
    ​
    Stick the note on the screen. Set a timer.
    ​  
    Keep your promise.  :)


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Laura Forsyth, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, PSY 17938 
 Compassionate, science-informed psychotherapy in Camarillo, CA & online
805.795.2131
Photos used under Creative Commons from dalbera, dalbera, dalbera, quinn.anya, dalbera