Is Multitasking Ruining Me?

Although it could go elsewhere, I believe this thread actually, for me, belongs here, for reasons I will elucidate.

Let me just say that in terms of my recovery from bp 1 and addiction (11 yrs clean now), living in the moment has probably been one of the most useful tools anyone ever gave me. When I am talking to someone, I try to talk with them. When I ride my bike, I don't listen to music. I listen to the sound of my wheels rolling across the pavement, or the rain pitter-pattering on my hard helmet. when I ride, I am riding--even if it is for five hours.

Sadly, I have noticed an erosion in my mindfulness, for lack of a better term, in recent times. I now notice that, as I write this, I am half-watching a blazer game, half-watching the oven, where chocolate chocolate chip cookies reside and will need my attention. And I am also at the exact same time completely obsessing about this new singer I discovered from the UK who absolutely blows my mind. And lastly, I am thinking about what chapters I can write tomorrow in my book (I am currently in the middle of chapter 24), because I really need to probably write two tomorrow and I am kind of low-grade stressing about that.

How many is that--5? I'd say that is the opposite of mindfulness.

I do not have ADHD. But I most certainly have had attentional (to invent a word) issues that I personally, relate directly to my bp 1. I never had any of this scatterbrained, doing-10-things-at-once stuff going on until my bipolar kicked in. I could stand at the operating table for hours and hours and hours and do absolutely nothing but operate. I do believe that attention issues can be a part of the bipolar spectrum illnesses. Just my take and of course, YMMV.

So, I am wondering, do other people have issues with this sort of thing? If so, does it bother you? Do you think it harms your serenity or peace or calm? Have you tried to do something about it--if so, what?

Just basically, very interested in how people feel about the place of multitasking in the bipolar life. I realize it is somewhat of a modern necessity, but I just don't think it is very good for me. Can't wait to hear from you sage, thoughtful humans on what your views and approach are.

Before I was properly medicated I definitely had that problem. When I get hypo I still do. Is there any chance you need a med tweaked? I'm sorry this is so bothersome.

Racing mind? Part of mania.

I experience this all the time. I cannot be sure if it is a product of bipolar disorder or not. It still remains to be seen if I am bipolar. I can say with certainty that the degree to which this occurred greatly increased right before I became manic. It was like my natural tendency was amplified to an extreme degree.

My mind is always multitasking and shifting modes. At any given point I am thinking about and/or working on 5, 6 sometimes more things. Typically, I am physically doing something while thinking through or planning several other things. It is usually a very disjointed experience, but it adds up over time to create complete initiatives. I recognize this lacks in efficiency and quality of experience. I've actually been working to implement something better for myself recently, so your question comes at a great time.

Some of this is a product of my environment. My little ones interrupt my train of thought often and starting and stopping tasks is just a reality of being a mother. However, there are times when I could completely connect with the moment and I do not simply out of habit.

First, I recognized that there are times when this method of thinking is beneficial for me or brings me greater value in the moment. For example, when I am folding laundry or doing the dishes I am completely fine with letting my mind wander. It helps me cope with the repetitive and mundane nature of those tasks. However, I find the experience is even more valuable if I can decide upon a particular train of thought and stick with it. So for example, I might decide to use my laundry time to also offer gratitude for my blessings and pray for those in need. Otherwise, my mind is all over the place. Recognizing I might wander and instead focusing to a limited scope helps me create more value in the moment.

It also helps when I spend some time in the morning planning out my day. I lay out the tasks which include the things I need to physically do as well as the things I need to think through. I also take time to consider anything that might keep me from meeting my goals and brainstorming strategies to help me get around those issues. I use all of this as the inputs needed to create a loose plan for my day.

As I go along, I find that my mind wanders less if I know I've already done the work to plan for everything and allocate time accordingly. It's like know I can just cruise along and follow as opposed to figuring it all out as I go. If in get into my day and things get crazy, I step back and realign with my plan. I adjust as needed if something comes up that genuinely requires my attention. I put other things that can wait in the 'parking lot' and plan for them later when they become a higher priority.

That's a condensed version of how I'm trying to go about it. It leverages the core strategies of how my teams used to manage work and respond to change in a professional setting. I still multitask, but it is planned for and much more streamlined. It accounts for lag between tasks and isn't just my mind doing 10 things at once because it can. So in your case, doing something like banging out an outline for the next chapter in your book while your cookies bake makes sense. Doing that with the tv on and thinking about what's for dinner and also what to get your Dad for Christmas and also how to secure that agent you're wanting to work with does not.

I actually wrote a blog post, a while back, about how difficult it has become for me to multi-task. In these recent years, when I try, something always gives, or it all breaks down at some point.

Looking back at my work years, I could definitely multi-task better than now. I used to think I did so, brilliantly. However, when really thinking about it, did I? I have compared myself to others. I think, many women have full-time jobs, are raising kids, carting them all over the place, have extra hobbies of their own and/or workout at the gym many days each week. Of course they also do housework, and often cooking, and...more. Though I managed to multi-task fairly well, in the past, I didn't have ALL of these things to deal with. I can't imagine I would have managed without total destruction. It was actually total overload that did destroy me (in a way) in the end.

I remember when I was first taught about mindfulness, I didn't really get it. Then later I found myself actually practicing it, and was "Ahhh, now THAT is mindfulness!" I totally agree that it is highly important in life, but it still takes practice. Fern referenced planning out your day, to a degree. I think planning in mindfulness is necessary, sometimes.

I don't have ADHD, but I would say that hyperfocus has been an issue for me in my life. It sounds good, and is good in ways, but does have its negatives. There is a difference between living in the moment and being immersed in something to the detriment of other things. The whole goal is balance. Again, I think planning is a good way to ensure balance.

Good points about hyperfocus BirdDancer. I experience that sometimes as well. It is the opposite end of the spectrum for me. Seems a bit bipolar that I swing between the two, does it not? I agree it has both positives and negatives. I think the goal is balance and my recent goal is to be more aware of my state so that I can take measures to adjust it accordingly.

I wanted to ask, you say you don’t have ADHD....well I didn’t have it either before my psychosis and antipsychotics, not sure which causes it but fish oil of a month or longer duration can counteract it....sounds crazy I know.

Ok next bit, while there is a place for mindfulness there is also a place for enrichment. So I read a couple of interesting popular press articles this week. One suggested that surgeons actually perform better listening to music while operating....so that’s more than one task and it’s better. Flip side there is brain atrophy in arctic explorers because the landscape is so barren...just looking at ice all day doesn’t do much for the brain apparently. So multitasking is actually good for the brain if you can pull it off.

I'm one of those people who think multitasking is nearly a myth and not effective. I say myth not because I do not believe its a thing but because there seems to be positives associated with it. There has been tons of research about the idea that its a positive. I know we all have to do it. But ultimately you have to make a decision about whether its actually doing more harm than good.

Yes, I have had issues with this sort of thing, independent of my mood state at the time. I don't think it necessarily means you're manic or anything like that, since I've had it also when stable or depressed. I think it's a feature of bp1. The more I get to stability and reduce my anxiety, the easier it is to manage.

Suggestions: talk to yourself. Pick the tasks you want to focus on, and while you're super focused on that singer, remind yourself periodically about the cookies. Or use technology: set an alarm or timer so you don't have to worry. Don't beat yourself up about not focusing/being mindful - this is most likely a brain chemistry thing which is out of your control.

Try fish oil, it actually does help. Leave yourself notes and reminders. Set alarms for when you need to do something or remember something. And be kind to yourself - this isn't a "failing" of your mindfulness, it's a symptom of your disease.

Wow. Okay, you guys. I am going to actually have to go back and study all these posts--there's just too much information in them to process at once. Thanks very, very much to everyone for contributing. I appreciate that everyone has their own experience with this but am glad not to be the only one who has tackled it. More to follow...

What is your book about? One of my past and possible future directions is writing. I have a couple of exploratory genres in progress. I have very strong feelings about it being so hard to find info in being personal medical advocate for my ex—keep saving his life and he’s not decrepit.However,as a lay person, tho with a masters in lib science,I find it astonishingly hard to find the info I need for him or myself on medical issues. Bad ramifications for millions of people.I imagine your book is more like a memoir. Definitely more fulfilling (pun)than chocolate chip cookies. Put those headphones on!!!

Yes, it is very hard to find medical information unless you are in the field and even then, it can still be a challenge. Good for you for helping him out.

The book is abut a long hospitalization I had at a very infamous/famous hospital.

Your book sounds extremely intriguing.

Honestly, I have never known anyone IRL who can multitask like I can. I feel like the Tazmanian Devil when I multi-task

Like so many aspects of bipolarism, multitasking starts out as a good thing. An asset. My memory gets sharp, my ideas breed like rabbits...until multitasking becomes too much of a good thing - and suddenly I'm moving faster and thinking faster than gravity permits. Annnd, if I don't reign it in I'll get snappy and angry and...yeah. That stuff.

But multitasking when it brings about benefit; I think it's a gift. And knowing when to step back and be in the moment is every bit as important.

My bosses always love me, what can I say....

BethRags, what you are describing is the contradiction of bipolar. We are truly brilliant sometimes, not just thinking we are LOL, but we can experience the unfortunate side of this with racing thoughts, irritability or flipping too low. So many famous artists, performers, and strategists have been and are bipolar. If we could experience and bottle only the good parts, fabulous!

For me, the real danger begins when I have lost insight. After that, anything could happen. And usually does.

Remember the movie “A Beautiful Mind”about Nobel laureate John Nash? The British university protected him until one day he decided not to be schizophrenic. Phew.

In real life, Nobel Laureate Nash ultimately lived such a quiet life with his wife that he was able to stop his meds.
Stress is such a huge triggering factor.
No, no folks, dont stop your meds without very intense consideration.