I’m not a good multitasker.  For me, there’s nothing more enjoyable than having one simple task and sticking with it until it is 100% complete, and then perhaps starting on something else (if I’m up to it).  It seems my mind can only handle one thing at a time.

If you call me while I’m at work and I actually happen to be doing something, be prepared for a pretty neanderthalian conversation:  I might get out something like “uh huh” or “nope” while I fight to maintain focus on my work (OK- maybe not quite that bad).  I did recently discover that I can eat and read at the same time with some proficiency!

My wife, on the other hand, is an amazing mutlitasker.  In fact, I don’t think she ever monotasks.  She can text message on her phone, talk on another phone, and cook dinner at the same time.  She does more in 10 minutes of multitasking than I do all day long (and that’s on my good days).  I don’t think she’s capable of not multitasking- it just comes naturally to her, and I think she must get bored if she’s only doing one thing at a time.

The multitasking wife and the monotasking husband need to be aware of their tendencies (limitations?) if communication is to occur.  For example, I may wait in vain all day for my wife to slow down to mach1 to try to get her attention to discuss something.  She might be trying to tell me things all day long, but I may be so focused on something else that I miss her full message.  It’s just a difference in pace, but an important one that needs to be addressed for multitaskers and monotaskers to communicate.

Now this is done, so time to move on to my next task….