I’ve suspected for a long time that I may have issues with keeping my attention on one thing and focusing. I am a prolific multi-tasker and easily distracted. Not with all things. For example if I am interested in what I am doing I can concentrate and produce what is required. Blogging, baking, reading – I can lose myself in these things.
However when it comes to the mundane, my attention wanes. I’m sure this is the case for many. But whereas others can plough through I move on elsewhere. I can be forgetful and leave objects and even people in strange places. Confession… I once almost left my baby son on a supermarket car-park in his baby seat. I didn’t of course, but there have been instances of books flying off the top of my car as I drive away, as well as my purse.
One of the original reasons for starting on the journey of simplifying family life was to be more focused, have less clutter and reduce commitments. I have a habit of taking on more than I can manage. Particularly anything interestingly creative. Hence I have many an unfinished project hanging around. As well as piles of procrastination. I now attribute much of my untidiness to the fact I get bored quickly. It’s not an excuse, I accept my shortcomings.
With every cloud there is a silver lining. My shortcomings make me who I am. And I have some good attributes also, which are related to the way I’m wired.
But this post isn’t about me (not that you would have guessed that :-))
It’s about a very simple kitchen device that is helping me, and maybe could help you, if you too have trouble single-tasking.
This is what happens to a surface in my home if I let it. Oh yes, piles of paper and bits and pieces desperately looking for a home. I can easily walk by for days on end ignoring the clutter. After all, the idea of putting it all away seems rather boring to me, and there are other things I’d rather be doing. In fact there are a few cupcake recipes, I quite fancy trying out, that have been milling around in my multi-tasking mind for a few days now.
I mentioned above there are advantages to be the way I am. I see potential in things (this can be a curse when trying to dispose of redundant items however!). To the untrained eye this may look like a very simple wind-up timer.
I see a potential solution to my lack of attention span. Could it be that 10 minutes is all it takes?
Could I hold attention on the mundane for 10 minutes at a time, and make it more interesting by making it a game, and a challenge?
It would appear the answer is yes. There’s even 2 minutes left on the timer!
I don’t know whether this method will lose momentum, maybe. I’ve only been doing it a couple of days. But so far it’s worked to inspire me to unload the dishwasher, peg out washing, put laundry away and other tasks that must be done, but to me are as dull as dishwater!
The kids are experimenting with it too. It made getting changed and brushing teeth a little more interesting before bed last night. Although I’d never advocate hastily cleaning teeth – they’re for life after all! Look after those babies!
Any simple tips out there on how to beat the boredom of mundane tasks that must be done in life? Please share!
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Not so long ago I went to a lecture of a child psychologist. She recommended using a kitchen timer to encourage children to focus on tasks like brushing teeth, getting dressed, doing homework. 🙂
Ah so I may be onto something?
The kids are loving it – it’s fun watching Mommy race round with them and laugh about getting the boring stuff done instead of nagging. But in all honesty it’s helping me to focus them as I easily get distracted leave them to it and return to find a job half done (as you would and should expect from children). The only slight concern I have is I dislike the fact that they are clock watching, in one sense, as they are just children, but as the new school year looms I do need to get some feeling of urgency back into the morning and bedtimes!
Hope all good with you?
All good Jo. During the summer I focused more on yoga&kids than on the Net.:)
Have been trying car-free life but it does not go too well. So we are getting another car.
I am back in college, also DH’s is starting his last year before he is called to the bar. Therefore we have started an ultra-organised home-routine. (ie. set days to do washing, cleaning, shopping, planning meals) It is amazing though how the kids actually enjoy having more guidelines. We get them up at 7.15am so we can have breakfast together and there’s no rushing around before leaving for school at 8.40, Mon.-Fri. we limited their TV/Wii-time to one set hour a day while I cook, they have to wash their own “bowl” (ie. plates after eating), make their bed and get dressed before coming downstairs for their breakfast, put their luchbox into their school-bags, and in the evening tidy up the toys and give a quick hoover to the sitting room. Apart from the above, if they do any additional work (eg. unload the dishwasher, wipe down shelves, hang clothes from washing machine they get 5-10 cent). …are we too strict??
No Laura you aren’t too strict, in fact this sounds like a plan to me! My Daughter has just popped in with the timer and asked how long do we have till we leave for the party today… I said 35 minutes and she set the timer. She thrives on routine and structure… I wish I’d realised this earlier. What you’ve described above is something I’m working on during term-time. I am concerned that I’m frittering away time – hence the timer! Most certainly the 1 hour for TV, PC, gaming sounds like something I need to implement. It seems when they know up front what is expected of them, there isn’t the arguments and negotiation. You’ve inspired me to have a think and get it down on paper Laura. Thank you! Good luck with your on going studies and I hope that DH’s last year goes well ( I can never think of him without a microwave in hand :-))!!
Not so long ago I went to a lecture of a child psychologist. She recommended using a kitchen timer to encourage children to focus on tasks like brushing teeth, getting dressed, doing homework. 🙂
Ah so I may be onto something?
The kids are loving it – it’s fun watching Mommy race round with them and laugh about getting the boring stuff done instead of nagging. But in all honesty it’s helping me to focus them as I easily get distracted leave them to it and return to find a job half done (as you would and should expect from children). The only slight concern I have is I dislike the fact that they are clock watching, in one sense, as they are just children, but as the new school year looms I do need to get some feeling of urgency back into the morning and bedtimes!
Hope all good with you?
All good Jo. During the summer I focused more on yoga&kids than on the Net.:)
Have been trying car-free life but it does not go too well. So we are getting another car.
I am back in college, also DH’s is starting his last year before he is called to the bar. Therefore we have started an ultra-organised home-routine. (ie. set days to do washing, cleaning, shopping, planning meals) It is amazing though how the kids actually enjoy having more guidelines. We get them up at 7.15am so we can have breakfast together and there’s no rushing around before leaving for school at 8.40, Mon.-Fri. we limited their TV/Wii-time to one set hour a day while I cook, they have to wash their own “bowl” (ie. plates after eating), make their bed and get dressed before coming downstairs for their breakfast, put their luchbox into their school-bags, and in the evening tidy up the toys and give a quick hoover to the sitting room. Apart from the above, if they do any additional work (eg. unload the dishwasher, wipe down shelves, hang clothes from washing machine they get 5-10 cent). …are we too strict??
No Laura you aren’t too strict, in fact this sounds like a plan to me! My Daughter has just popped in with the timer and asked how long do we have till we leave for the party today… I said 35 minutes and she set the timer. She thrives on routine and structure… I wish I’d realised this earlier. What you’ve described above is something I’m working on during term-time. I am concerned that I’m frittering away time – hence the timer! Most certainly the 1 hour for TV, PC, gaming sounds like something I need to implement. It seems when they know up front what is expected of them, there isn’t the arguments and negotiation. You’ve inspired me to have a think and get it down on paper Laura. Thank you! Good luck with your on going studies and I hope that DH’s last year goes well ( I can never think of him without a microwave in hand :-))!!
I use this method all of the time for myself, not because I am easily distracted, but for motivation to get boring jobs done. It also works well for my son who is easily distracted.
It definitely focuses the mind! Looks like it might be a keeper!
I use this method all of the time for myself, not because I am easily distracted, but for motivation to get boring jobs done. It also works well for my son who is easily distracted.
It definitely focuses the mind! Looks like it might be a keeper!
I use a very similar method with the kids, Lets beat the time. Given a small task, such as cleaning up the DPA (designated play area), 4 mins on the clock… And GO! The idea is to get it done b4 the clock runs out. During BIG weekend cleans we do the same idea, work hard for 10-30, then take a mental break, and come back to it. This has work wonders. 🙂
It’s reassuring to hear it’s working for you Heather. Makes me feel as though this may work long-term! It’s helping me actually start a mundane task, as there’s a finite amount of time – pretty much as you describe. Thanks!
I use a very similar method with the kids, Lets beat the time. Given a small task, such as cleaning up the DPA (designated play area), 4 mins on the clock… And GO! The idea is to get it done b4 the clock runs out. During BIG weekend cleans we do the same idea, work hard for 10-30, then take a mental break, and come back to it. This has work wonders. 🙂
It’s reassuring to hear it’s working for you Heather. Makes me feel as though this may work long-term! It’s helping me actually start a mundane task, as there’s a finite amount of time – pretty much as you describe. Thanks!
I’ve read about and tried various ‘timer’ strategies in time-management books – my favourite is the Pomodoro technique, which is essentially the same as the Simply Being Mum technique, but 25 minute blocks. I tend to use the timer when I am really really procrastinating, or really overwhelmed with stuff. It’s not so much the amount of time, as the act of getting started for me, and the timer helps with that! My kids like it too – it’s great for musical instrument practice. Again, once the timer is on and the instrument is out of the case, half the battle is won!
I’ll have to check that technique out thanks Sarah. I went with 10 minutes to break me in 😉
It definitely seems to be getting the Kids motivated and it’s so much better being a fun ‘race against the clock’ than my insistent nagging – ‘brush your hair, teeth, get your shoes on etc… ‘ I had being a moaning Mommy – it drags everyone down! Thanks for that!
I’ve read about and tried various ‘timer’ strategies in time-management books – my favourite is the Pomodoro technique, which is essentially the same as the Simply Being Mum technique, but 25 minute blocks. I tend to use the timer when I am really really procrastinating, or really overwhelmed with stuff. It’s not so much the amount of time, as the act of getting started for me, and the timer helps with that! My kids like it too – it’s great for musical instrument practice. Again, once the timer is on and the instrument is out of the case, half the battle is won!
I’ll have to check that technique out thanks Sarah. I went with 10 minutes to break me in 😉
It definitely seems to be getting the Kids motivated and it’s so much better being a fun ‘race against the clock’ than my insistent nagging – ‘brush your hair, teeth, get your shoes on etc… ‘ I had being a moaning Mommy – it drags everyone down! Thanks for that!
I find it hard to get started also, and I don’t have any tricks – so I’m very glad to read this tip. I never thought about it as an issue of distractibility, but now that you point it out, I believe this could be at the root of my problem too, as I know I am easily distracted as well. Thanks for this!
Hi Jo – For a while now I’ve wondered about some of my behaviour. I’m generally a motivated and energetic person by nature, a self-starter in many respects (for example professionally I am very motivated and a finisher – I’m self-employed) but there are certain tasks at home that I find difficult to start and put them off ’till later’. Originally I thought it was a decision making block in my head. Me being me, I very often look for answers to why I behave in a certain manner, I’m very keen on self-awareness and knowing what you are dealing with, in the hope of improving oneself. So I’ve been sporadically googling. Different issues seem to be coming back to the same thing, my attention span with regard certain everyday (boring) tasks. I watched a programme about an obsessive compulsive hoarder (I believe I have hoarding tendencies – but am winning the battle!) – which was excellent. A psychologist got involved. She asked him why he had a pile of dirty dishes in the sink (probably from 5 years ago after they found it buried under mounds of clutter than had been removed). She spoke of it as a ‘mundane task’ – suggesting he had left it to deal with later due to the monotony of doing it. In my case I would get round to doing them, but in his extreme case that never happened. And I thought ‘yes I can understand that’, whereas the Hubby sitting next to me couldn’t get it at all – his view would be get it done and dusted before you move on – he thought it very odd. Now I’m not a lazy person, so why would I think that? Long story but maybe it helps? Jo
Hah! My husband has the same idea as yours! Whereas I do tend to put off the drudge jobs. It’s something I, too, am trying to change.
I find it hard to get started also, and I don’t have any tricks – so I’m very glad to read this tip. I never thought about it as an issue of distractibility, but now that you point it out, I believe this could be at the root of my problem too, as I know I am easily distracted as well. Thanks for this!
Hi Jo – For a while now I’ve wondered about some of my behaviour. I’m generally a motivated and energetic person by nature, a self-starter in many respects (for example professionally I am very motivated and a finisher – I’m self-employed) but there are certain tasks at home that I find difficult to start and put them off ’till later’. Originally I thought it was a decision making block in my head. Me being me, I very often look for answers to why I behave in a certain manner, I’m very keen on self-awareness and knowing what you are dealing with, in the hope of improving oneself. So I’ve been sporadically googling. Different issues seem to be coming back to the same thing, my attention span with regard certain everyday (boring) tasks. I watched a programme about an obsessive compulsive hoarder (I believe I have hoarding tendencies – but am winning the battle!) – which was excellent. A psychologist got involved. She asked him why he had a pile of dirty dishes in the sink (probably from 5 years ago after they found it buried under mounds of clutter than had been removed). She spoke of it as a ‘mundane task’ – suggesting he had left it to deal with later due to the monotony of doing it. In my case I would get round to doing them, but in his extreme case that never happened. And I thought ‘yes I can understand that’, whereas the Hubby sitting next to me couldn’t get it at all – his view would be get it done and dusted before you move on – he thought it very odd. Now I’m not a lazy person, so why would I think that? Long story but maybe it helps? Jo
Hah! My husband has the same idea as yours! Whereas I do tend to put off the drudge jobs. It’s something I, too, am trying to change.
Love it! We use the oven timer to get our wee lad off the computer (doesn’t always work…) but perhaps we need to start using it in the mornings too. He is quite possibly the most easily distracted 5 year old boy on earth!!
There are good and bad aspects to being easily distracted, I’ve outlined the not so favourable above – but that does us ‘distractables’ an injustice! I wonder if your wee one is creative, fun-loving and very adaptable? (p.s – I can’t get my little one’s off the PC either!) 🙂
Love it! We use the oven timer to get our wee lad off the computer (doesn’t always work…) but perhaps we need to start using it in the mornings too. He is quite possibly the most easily distracted 5 year old boy on earth!!
There are good and bad aspects to being easily distracted, I’ve outlined the not so favourable above – but that does us ‘distractables’ an injustice! I wonder if your wee one is creative, fun-loving and very adaptable? (p.s – I can’t get my little one’s off the PC either!) 🙂
The timer is the best. I first heard of using it to get through tasks via something from FLYlady. And then I read about it as an aid with children– let the timer be the bad guy, not you. I use the timer as much as I can remember to set it. I use it for me and for the kids for all kinds of things. Best thing ever.
Totally agree – it’s working a treat. I’m approx. day 4 in and I’m not only more productive but the Kids are enjoying it!
The timer is the best. I first heard of using it to get through tasks via something from FLYlady. And then I read about it as an aid with children– let the timer be the bad guy, not you. I use the timer as much as I can remember to set it. I use it for me and for the kids for all kinds of things. Best thing ever.
Totally agree – it’s working a treat. I’m approx. day 4 in and I’m not only more productive but the Kids are enjoying it!
Great strategy – though my all time favourite is ‘guests are coming’ (real work better, but fictional can work sometimes!) for procastinating with washing up/straightening things! Glad it’s working for you and your lovely children!
Hey Sarah, I know many people who deliberately invite guests round so they HAVE to tidy up!
Oh and one person who lived to the principle that should someone phone and say they were on their way for an impromptu visit, there should be no more than 10 minutes worth of tidying-up to do prior to arrival… as you say – it works 🙂
That being said, the standards of your guests aren’t always as high! My cousin and his partner made it clear that even in the ‘bad’ post dinner state, my house was incredibly tidy in comparison to theirs! *breathing a sigh of relief*
Great strategy – though my all time favourite is ‘guests are coming’ (real work better, but fictional can work sometimes!) for procastinating with washing up/straightening things! Glad it’s working for you and your lovely children!
Hey Sarah, I know many people who deliberately invite guests round so they HAVE to tidy up!
Oh and one person who lived to the principle that should someone phone and say they were on their way for an impromptu visit, there should be no more than 10 minutes worth of tidying-up to do prior to arrival… as you say – it works 🙂
That being said, the standards of your guests aren’t always as high! My cousin and his partner made it clear that even in the ‘bad’ post dinner state, my house was incredibly tidy in comparison to theirs! *breathing a sigh of relief*
I have used the timer for years as a child-management device. “Yes darling, I will play with you for half an hour” means half an hour of concentrated play with me not glancing (longingly) at the clock, and when the timer does go off, it’s not me ending the play, it’s the timer. Also “when the timer goes we have to get coats on for school”, “when the timer goes, we can have a snack” and so on. What I really like is the objectivity – I mean, we all see the timer being set, so no-one’s cheating or cutting the time off.
That’s a great description Jessica ‘objectivity’ – exactly. Its taken me a while to realise that a comment such as ‘You have 15 minutes left to play before bath’, means very little to my Kids. Even as they start to be able to tell the time, when 15 mins is up it’s always an unpleasant surprise. This is putting time into context for them. And as you say it does alleviate overt clock-watching which isn’t nice is it?
I have used the timer for years as a child-management device. “Yes darling, I will play with you for half an hour” means half an hour of concentrated play with me not glancing (longingly) at the clock, and when the timer does go off, it’s not me ending the play, it’s the timer. Also “when the timer goes we have to get coats on for school”, “when the timer goes, we can have a snack” and so on. What I really like is the objectivity – I mean, we all see the timer being set, so no-one’s cheating or cutting the time off.
That’s a great description Jessica ‘objectivity’ – exactly. Its taken me a while to realise that a comment such as ‘You have 15 minutes left to play before bath’, means very little to my Kids. Even as they start to be able to tell the time, when 15 mins is up it’s always an unpleasant surprise. This is putting time into context for them. And as you say it does alleviate overt clock-watching which isn’t nice is it?
As a ‘natural born minimalist’, I used the oven timer for the above experiment in the past couple of days. 🙂 The concept of a timer works well with the kids, except I think I will buy a proper kitchen timer, so my kids don’t keep running into the kitchen to check the time.
I tried the oven timer a while back but, like you say, the Kids kept wanting to pop in and check out the time – it was distracting. Also my second-born isn’t good with time yet particularly digital time, so the wind up timer clicking down is much easier to understand – and it’s portable, in fact as I am just starting a post it is next to me with 20 mins on the clock! I tend to type fast so it shouldn’t be a problem!
As a ‘natural born minimalist’, I used the oven timer for the above experiment in the past couple of days. 🙂 The concept of a timer works well with the kids, except I think I will buy a proper kitchen timer, so my kids don’t keep running into the kitchen to check the time.
I tried the oven timer a while back but, like you say, the Kids kept wanting to pop in and check out the time – it was distracting. Also my second-born isn’t good with time yet particularly digital time, so the wind up timer clicking down is much easier to understand – and it’s portable, in fact as I am just starting a post it is next to me with 20 mins on the clock! I tend to type fast so it shouldn’t be a problem!