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Angie Mc
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OK, single tasking is all the rage. Switch tasking is a no-no. But what about when multi-tasking is defined as doing tasks at the same time that work well together? What if one task is mundane, or a good habit, or passive allowing the second task to shine or be less of a burden?
Here are some of my faves:
Exercise (walk or rebound) + pray the rosary
Shower + prep to write a blog post
Work on the computer + spotify music playing in the background
Let shower water warm + brush teeth
Watch movie + fold laundry
Thanks so much!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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JodieLyn
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Folding clothes goes well with so many things.. a good movie, music to sing along with, helping the kids with math (easy to start and stop folding)...
Nursing and/or cuddling kids while reading a book.. yes a book I'm reading silently to myself.. it's loads of fun when they bring their own books and snuggle up.
I find a lot of little kitchen chores can be spaced into cooking chores.. like things that are supposed to simmer or bake for short times before getting more attention.. or waiting on water to boil.. great time to knock out a few dishes or sweep the floor or such.
I love crocheting (or any handwork) while watching a movie or chatting with kids or such..
You know for me a lot of these things are things that I simply can't focus all my attention on them, and I will be forever distracted from what I'm doing. But adding in something else and a task that was hard to stay on task with, becomes enjoyable and easy.
Of course then there's the one that my dad never could get.. reading a book while watching a movie  as long as you can switch between the storylines it actually does work. 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Angi
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I have a need for adult interaction during the day, I usually get it by calling a friend and washing dishes while we talk. She used to do dishes at the same time, but now we are a time zone off from each other.
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lapazfarm
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I don't know how mothers of littles could possibly get everything done without multi-tasking.
Examples of things that have worked for me:
Snapping beans (or shucking corn or peeling potatoes...) while watching children play outside.
Folding laundry while listening to narrations.
Making a grocery list while supervising bath-time.
Art plus audiobook.
Knitting plus DVD.
And a load of laundry is *always* going no matter what else is happening.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Kristie 4
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Knitting and movie watching
Knitting and teaching math
Knitting with spelling
Knitting with Read ALouds
(notice a pattern??)
Knitting keeps me sane...
We do breakfast and spiritual reading (like at the monastary we stayed at in the summer).
Read Alouds with Kapla, Art etc.
Making Dinner and reading on 4Real (bad idea to multitask this way- ends up with too many burnt dinners  )
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
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jawgee
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Angi wrote:
| I have a need for adult interaction during the day, I usually get it by calling a friend and washing dishes while we talk. She used to do dishes at the same time, but now we are a time zone off from each other. |
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How funny. I always put away clothes when I'm on the phone. It's the only time I can discipline myself to do it. Sometimes when I have a lot of laundry to do I say to myself, "who can I call?"
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Monica
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Mimip
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Kristie 4 wrote:
Knitting and movie watching
Knitting and teaching math
Knitting with spelling
Knitting with Read ALouds
(notice a pattern??)
Knitting keeps me sane...
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Um, YEAH! TOTALLY AGREE!
When I sit down to read aloud with whomever is starting to read, you know the "D.............O..............G, d......o.......g, dog!" stage, knitting is my sanity. I am not a patient person by nature and that beginning stage of reading really taxes me. When I started knitting and was doing dishcloths and scarves, which meant row after row of stockinette stitch it was so mind blowing how much more patient I became while my daughter was reading! Now my son is at that stage and I'm working on a shirt that requires 15 inches of stockinette stitch, I think I will always remember it as the shirt I knit while my son learned to read!
Nursing and reading is another one that is awesome.
Oh and I listen to the Divine Office every morning while I fold clothes. That way I pray for my family while I fold their clothes.
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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SeaStar
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One of my favorites is audiobooks while driving anywhere...
I like to save up catalogs and junk mail to browse through while sitting at cub scouts, music lessons, etc. I have a pretty tote bag that I put that stuff into the moment it comes in the mail.
One Hail Mary per household task..
And who can pass up reading in the bath tub? 
One of my favorites....
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Kristie 4
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Oh yeah, reading in the bathtub. That is one of my favourites as the bathtub is the only way to get warm in this crazy cold..
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
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CrunchyMom
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I'm so jealous of those can knit because it seems such a good way to multi-task, though I'm equally jealous of those who can do anything at all while riding in a car. I get so sick. We do use audio books a good deal on long trips, but I envy those who can come back from a road trip with a baby blanket or a book completed.
I have had a very hard time with concentration the past couple of years, multi-tasking or not, which makes reading, praying, etc...challenging. Add another task, and I'm toast. I'm hoping it is just a symptom of my Vit D deficiency so that when I fix that, things can improve. I get lost praying the OF or HM sometimes! And the other day, I simply could not remember our phone number, which we've had for two years!
Anyway, it is off topic! I just feel I used to be able to do this sort of multi-tasking easily, but now, I can't even do things well one at a time.
Though, I've NEVER been able to talk on the phone while being productive 
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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Angi
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jawgee wrote:
Angi wrote:
| I have a need for adult interaction during the day, I usually get it by calling a friend and washing dishes while we talk. She used to do dishes at the same time, but now we are a time zone off from each other. |
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How funny. I always put away clothes when I'm on the phone. It's the only time I can discipline myself to do it. Sometimes when I have a lot of laundry to do I say to myself, "who can I call?" |
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It is nice to have a specific friend who knows that I will be doing dishes when I call. She has asked why there is no water running, if I am sitting on my butt, rather than washing dishes. That of course, humbles me enough to go do the dishes.
She is also a homeschooler, so our conversations are often like this - "yes, of course, we will see you at Christmas, Emily do question number 5, we will be in town on the 23rd, Luke you know how to spell that word..."
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Betsy
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CrunchyMom wrote:
I'm so jealous of those can knit because it seems such a good way to multi-task, though I'm equally jealous of those who can do anything at all while riding in a car. I get so sick.
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Well.....I think it might be worse when you can and do knit....and (like you) get so sick in the car! 
Like you, it's critical that I have good things to listen to and can keep looking forward out a window. 
Anyway, Lindsay, giving you a cyber hug  and joining in your sadness that we can't get more done in the long car rides.... 
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When handcrafting my work, I always pray that it will raise your heart to all that is true, modest, just, holy, lovely and good fame!
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JennGM
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Thankfully I don't get carsick. It bothers my husband at times that I never can keep my hands at rest. I want to do something! I always have a book or knitting at hand. I need to get some more sewing done, but that isn't good for multi-tasking.
When I'm on the phone I get a really clean kitchen.
But my biggest multi-task approach is praying while I work. Intentionally talking with God and offering my work. I also have recently put a book of St. Josemaria's writings that I read a quick meditation while I'm cooking.
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Feb 14 2013 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
You know for me a lot of these things are things that I simply can't focus all my attention on them, and I will be forever distracted from what I'm doing. But adding in something else and a task that was hard to stay on task with, becomes enjoyable and easy.
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Jodie, this is exactly it.
Thanks so much, friends! Very inspiring.
OK, here are the variables I'm dealing with:
A Entrenched Habit - body moving / mindless: shower, folding laundry, eat meal, waiting (in line, for appointments), wash dishes, walk, rebound
B Entrenched Habit - body moving with focus: driving, cooking
C Passive Enjoyable Activity - can be still: listening to music, watching a movie for the 10th time, audio books
D Active Thinking - can be still: praying, blog post drafts, computer work, sorting paperwork, chat with others
E Background Noise: laundry running, slow cooker simmering, shower warming, tea kettle heating, coffee brewing,
I'm going to think about how to add to each group. Then I'll look at which groups compliment each other and see which activities can work best together.
And the way you talked about knitting caught my interest. I've never done handwork like knitting, and don't feel inclined, but I'm wondering if I can come up with something to keep my hands busy in another way that is productive. Squeeze balls for exercise? Paint my nails?
Thanks so much!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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herdingkittens
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I really like grabbing a child who needs some extra attention (or one I really need to be around ) and inviting them to do a task with me so we can chat. Those always end up leading to good conversations or sometimes a good laugh. 
I have to say, I am not familiar with being able to knit or do anything else while doing anything else, because I am always having to do something else while doing that original thing! ha ha! Most of my multitaking is not because I thought, "Gee, this would be so much more efficient if I did both these activities at once!", but more of a, "Quick! Put out this fire while I am doing these other 2 things!!" I am assuming it is my season in life, coupled with my procrastinator tendencies, but nevertheless, I am thankful that God made us women this way. Things would get ugly quick if I could not switch gears so swiftly in the midst of "doing" something else.
Love this thread, and it has made me think a little more about looking for opportunities to add in enjoyable tasks with my other tasks. I often forget that that is one of the best ways to interest a child in something... "Hey, Mama! What are you doing? Can I try that?!"
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