It’s a TRIPLE POST TUESDAY, friends!
Not only am I sharing THIS POST HERE, but today, you can also catch my NO BOUNDARIES with Walmart post plus A NEW “MY PLATE”!
Settle in, grab an iced coffee and make sure you read all three 🙂 .
In July, I shared this book…
…as you know I love these little books and as soon as I saw the title of this one, I had to read it.
THIS BOOK is just filled with so many small, practical ways to live a soft, calm life and well, sign me up for that please.
I typically don’t sit down and read books like this all in one sitting. With this book, since it’s numbered 1-100, I just read a few each day along with my morning quiet time.
Spoiler alert: right now, I’m on number 65ish and many of the “ways to lead a soft and calm life” involve not multi-tasking. Um…that’s hard for me.
I decided last Thursday that I was going to make a point to quit multi-tasking and well, as you know, misery loves company, so I thought I would challenge you as well 😉 .
I’m not saying that I’m 100% quitting (because I’m human and a busy working mom of four, so multi-tasking helps sometimes!), but I have been trying hard to only do one thing at a time. Here are some examples:
1: I stopped watching a show on my phone while I make my lunch. Instead, I focus on making my lunch and then, I enjoy my lunch with a show.
2: I stopped taking my phone outside with me when I let the dogs out. I often check my email/respond to DMs while I’m outside with my pups. Instead, I’m trying to just go outside and spend time with my dogs and then head back in. (Do you see a theme, many of mine involve my phone…)
3: There have been a ton of little things too. For instance, I was using scissors to cut something for Mades while simultaneously talking to Smith about something this weekend and decided nothing good results from me cutting something important to one child while looking up and talking to another. I put the scissors down and talked first.
Anyway, I could probably name about 100 more little ways I multi-task, but if I’m trying to savor every moment of my life (both big and small), I should probably focus on my life instead of doing four things at once. So, this book challenged me, and now, I’m challenging any of you who want to try it too. I would love (over the next few weeks) if you would share ways you “stopped” multi-tasking. I can only imagine how whatever you’re doing, we’re all probably doing too.
If you haven’t grabbed THIS BOOK, I can’t recommend it enough!
That’s it! Just a little personal growth challenge for the group.
Don’t forget to catch both my NO BOUNDARIES with Walmart plus A NEW “MY PLATE” today too!
Before we go, I wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU for your sweet comments of love and encouragement yesterday. I am SO very thankful for this group. So very, very, very thankful.
Happy Tuesday, friends! xx
Diane Moore says
I bought this book when you mentioned it a few weeks ago and have been meaning to tell you I love it! I, too, often multitask and while it does often involve the phone, sometimes I’m trying to pick up toys while my little granddaughter talks to me. I mean! Didn’t I learn what’s important and how fast these stages go with my children?! I’m making the SAME mistakes!!
Not to mention all the other areas of life that I’m not fully experiencing.
This book had already helped/reminded me and I am in for this challenge.
Thanks, Shay
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you, thank you for sharing!!! I am so happy you are enjoying the book too. It’s the little things that add up to big differences, right?
Elspeth says
I love to multi task, but will definitely try this challenge! Looking forward to seeing who else joins in too and hearing how it goes for you!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Karen says
Challenge accepted! 😉
Melissa says
I love this! I sometimes listen to the Happiness Lab with Laurie Santos who is a professor at Yale. There is an episode on mindfulness where she talks about being in the present and focusing only on what you are doing. Even in the small things like washing dishes…how does the water feel, the soap smell, etc… It’s so difficult to live in the present. I try to remember to do this daily at different points to work on teaching my mind to be present.
Mix and Match Mama says
YES!!!! I love this! I need to listen to this podcast!
Faith says
Ugh! I’m such a multi-tasker and often not good at it. My husband has pointed this out several times lol. While washing the dishes, I would stop to check something on my phone because I was thinking about it and couldn’t let it go until I found an answer. Okay challenge accepted!
Kacey says
Not me listening to a podcast while reading your 3 posts today LOL!! Multi-tasking is hard to quit! With that being said, I’ve been very conscious about sitting down to read at night without my phone next to me or the TV on in the background – NO distractions. It might seem small, but it really makes a big difference. I have a mind that can be going in 1000 different directions at once, so really immersing myself in my book and soaking it in has been a great wind down before bed.
Side note – love the “my plate” and Walmart posts!
K.K. says
I’ll give it a good try!! I love this idea. 🙂
Alissa says
Just ordered this book! I am a teacher getting ready for the new school year and can use some calm in my life. 🙂
Francene M Katzen says
I just read this post, went straight to order this book, want to read and share with my daughter. This sounds like exactly what I need right now. I have noticed that I want to change a few things in my life these days-mostly how I spend some of my time-this thought came about just after my Mother passing. Thanks for the recommendation.
Mix and Match Mama says
I am so sorry for your loss. Sending you so much love! I hope you enjoy the book too!
Laura Anderson says
I’m guilty of multi-tasking too….like you, trying to make small sustainable changes. I started not listening to podcasts while walking my pup in the green belt creek behind my house….instead enjoying nature and watching the birds and insects more intentionally. I’m definitely a work in progress!
Severe Celiac disese Mom of two says
I am happy for your daughter that she is no longer GF. I am disappointed you waited almost a year to tell your bloggers. Both of my daughter’s have SEVERE celiac disease. They were diagnosed in their late 20’s. They can’t have anything with wheat or ANY cross continuation. They have severe stomach pains for over 12 hours and throw up when the have had anything gluten or wheat. I can’t believe she was diagnosed by a rash??? Both of our girls went to a gastrologist and had a scope. People that frustrate when they say they are eating GF for a diet and healthy eating. It has effective my girls whole life. From a crouton being placed on a salad at a wedding and throwing up. Every festival, event and even their own weddings. I can’t tell you how many times they left a shower, wedding or event EARLY because there was nothing they can eat. Celiac disease is very serious!!!! My girls would love to have nuggets from Chik Filet that are not grilled. You shouldn’t show are the recipes with GF and we even ordered a pizza that was GF. Wow ordered a GF pizza we are proud of you. My girls HAVE TO EAY THAT WAY. Like I said before I’m very disappointed that you waited so long to tell you bloggers.
Mix and Match Mama says
Well I apologize that my timeline to share my daughter’s private health wasn’t in line with your timeline. I didn’t wait almost a year. I waited approximately a few days after the doctors officially said “Nope, not going to do that second biopsy, we have all the info we need.” It took months to get to this point, and in the interim, it wasn’t info I wanted to share. I absolutely feel terrible for the situation your daughters are in and cannot imagine how awful that is for them and you as their mom. I would hope though that you might not direct any of your frustrations at me…a mom just sharing her daughter’s journey on her space in order to rectify wrong information. I think your disappointment might be misplaced, but I feel certain it’s because it comes from a place of frustration and hurt for your own kids’ situation and for that, I have a lot of love and grace. xx
Sheri says
Shay, Such a kind answer to a really disrespectful post.
SM says
Agree, Sheri. Very nice work, Shay.
I feel sad for this mom of two with Celiac, she’s practically treating you as if you are her own personal expert/doctor/counselor/friend. (Although this is hopefully not the way she treats her friends!)
With a different tone, she could have not only shared her story but could have gained insight from others who might be reading, have had similar experiences, and might even have offered some advice.
Jo says
Well said! So much disrespect in that post. I spied few errors too.
Great response, Shay!
Jaimee Shaffer says
Tough challenge but necessary!! As a mother with ADHD (both of my boys have it too) with a demanding job, it’s hard to tell if I’m multi-tasking or facing unavoidable distractions and trying to please everyone at once. Plus, being on a health/longevity journey and trying to utilize my time to soak up all of the resources out there makes me feel all over the place. Help hold me accountable because mindfulness matters too! 😉💕
Kay says
Too funny-I am reading (and absolutely loving!) this book right now during my quiet time each day, and today I came across the ‘try not to multi-task page!’
I have many flaws, but my superpower is NOT multi tasking. I know that nothing good comes of it! And I find I actually have more free time if I carve out dedicated time to do one.thing.at.a.time.
My favorite version of not multi-tasking (and a challenge for me!) is to listen carefully when people talk and NOT be coming up with my next comment/question/answer. I find my brain will sometimes be looking for that “next topic” while someone is still finishing their thoughts. Conversations take on a new level when you’re actually just listening. Then, responding.
I also try not to have my phone with me after dinner. I leave it in another room. That way, if I want to check it, I have to physically get up and leave the room. And that makes me check it a whole lot less-lol!
Good for you for trying this out! I can’t wait for updates.
Evan says
This point about listening during conversation is such a good one. I find that I’m only half listening to people because I’m thinking ahead to where the conversation might be going or how to respond or any number of other things. It happens frequently when someone is new to me and tells me their name. I typically forget it almost instantly because I wasn’t focused on what they were saying. Thank you for saying this!
Laci says
I have slowly been trying to put my phone down in the evenings! It’s hard when I have teenage drivers etc but it’s nice to just be STILL and take in life.
sandi says
I am going to apply the no multitasking challenge to my laundry. The laundry goes in the washer and if I cannot multitask until it is done then I can sit and enjoy a book until it is popped in the dryer. I can continue my book until I start hanging the laundry and putting it away. That sounds like a win!
Years ago I was organized, efficient and did less things at one time. Not sure when I felt the need to do all the things at the same time but man, efficiency goes right out the door. This will be challenging but very helpful.
~B~ says
You know what I just realized in reading this post? One of the seldom times I am not multi-tasking, is when sitting down to read your blog and the others I keep up with. Reading your post really made me cognizant of how many things I do at the same time as others. I can see where changing some could bring some calm into my life – appreciated this perspective, it’s really very interesting!
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwww! Well THANK YOU for being present for my blog. I appreciate it so much! xx
Sharon says
While I think I’m good at being fully present with others and not multi-tasking, when it comes to just me, it’s so much harder. But…I deserve to be fully present with myself and focus on the task I’m tackling instead of trying to do multiple things at one. I accept your challenge!
Evan says
This is a great challenge and one I accept. I think as women, we tend to multi-task in all areas of our life. I want to be more present in all aspects of my life and am going to try to stop multitasking and focus more. Focus on my kids instead of doing dishes, focus on conversation instead of checking my email or a text message, just focusing more. Thank you for the challenge. I look forward to hearing what we all discover during this time.