​Doing three things at the same time is not a good idea. I don’t know why humans choose to accomplish tasks that way, but many of us certainly do. I’m an example, that’s for sure.

I’m also an example of why you shouldn’t juggle like that. Case in point: in the morning, I’m trying to get out the door with the least amount of hassle. You want to take on the day fresh, with no frustrations. Get the flow going in the right direction.

That means pulling together any food, workout clothes and work-related materials and put them in carrying cases before trudging to the car. This can be done in one trip. In fact, typically that is the case.

What happens?  Frequently (not necessarily every day, but often more than once a week), I drop something on the way out the door because I’m trying to do too much. A report due that day falls and the paper scatters. The workout bag strap slips from my shoulder and it bounces off my knee, catching between my feet and I stumble in the dark. Or, as I get to the car, it has magically locked itself overnight (what’s up with that?) in the garage and I have to put EVERYTHING down and rummage in my right pants’ pocket for the car keys to click the door open.  Beep, beep.
 
This creates frustration. Not super-nova pissed off, raging, frothing at the mouth wanting to lash out at another human being or inanimate object anger, but still, getting off on the wrong foot. The smile erased from your face, your little cocoon comes unwrapped.
 
This happened to me often enough where I FINALLY (after how many years?) decided to do something about it.  Not hard to change. The first step was simply saying to myself, “Why do you keep trying to carry all that crap to the car in one trip? Why don’t you take two trips? It’s going to add 30 seconds to your commute.”
 
I did that. The past 3-4 weeks (this is not a New Year’s resolution; this is just a very minor life improvement activity) I’ve been making two trips to the car in the morning, moving more slowly, contemplating what to carry the first time out, and what to leave inside for the second walk to the vehicle.

I haven’t dropped anything during this time. I haven’t cursed. My knee has not slammed into a doorknob, nor has anything been forgotten inside that got remembered 11 miles down the road, so no “Dammits, I forgot the coffee cup again” statements (that no one hears anyway except the reflection in the car mirror of a frowning absent-minded driver upset that he’s going to use a Styrofoam cup at the office and create more garbage in the world).
 
Stop trying to do three things at once. That’s my advice this week.
 
 
You’ll get more accomplished in the long run by starting your day moving more slowly and with a leisurely attitude. Your life will flow more smoothly. Interestingly (and you wouldn’t think this to be the case), you’ll save time. Why? Because you make fewer mistakes. Your mental energy stays positive.
 
There’s a lot to be said for changing the simple little things to improve your life. Think about it, then give it a try.