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The Art of SINGLE TASKING For Reduced Stress and Improved Client Relations

Add heading WELCOME TO Forum For Growth In Service

For people who want to serve others authentically compassionately and effectively

Hello I m Carol D Marsh founder of Forum For Growth In Service From 1992 through 2009 I served as founding executive director of Miriam s House a residence for Washington DC s homeless women living with AIDS Chronic migraine disease forced me to retire and I miss my work profoundly But though I can no longer do the work I love I can support YOU

What This Presentation is About It s about two things Reducing your stress by switching to single tasking IMPROVING WORK SATISFACTION and the quality of your relations with clients or customers patients

Let s get started

What is the ART OF SINGLE TASKING It s the ability to mentally and physically step away from distractions in order to focus solely on one person or task

Why is SINGLE TASKING important Because our lives and our jobs are busy and often chaotic Ability to shut out the chaos is essential to our own well being and to our relationships

Why SINGLE TASKING We live in a multi tasking world in which there are constant demands on our attention time and spirits SINGLE TASKING alleviates the ways in which these seeming imperatives rule our lives

SINGLE TASKING 1 Reduces your stress level 2 Improves relations with your clients or patients or customers

Why is MULTI TASKING stressful Psychology Today says Multi tasking creates an illusion of parallel activity but actually it requires mental switching from one task to another This drains the glucose fuel needed by the brain making the brain less efficient and creating the feeling of being tired

Scientists have found that multitaskers actually experience more stress and that the effects of multitasking linger once the tasks are complete resulting in persistent fractured thinking and lack of focus In other words multi tasking is affecting our brain and stress levels even when we re not doing it https www psychologytoday com us blog memory medic 201608 the perils multitasking http awomanshealth com multitasking makes more stress not less

MUTI TASKING It s inherently stressful It s overwhelming There s no way to do it well

How do you change your habit of MULTI TASKING 1 Learn about its effects 2 Talk or journal about how it stresses you 3 Recognize when you re multitasking 4 Switch to single tasking

RIGHT NOW Silence your cell phone Close all other windows in your browser Turn off radio TV music

RIGHT NOW Take a slow deep breath Take another Take another

Practice single tasking while you go through this presentation You ve learned a bit about the stressful nature of multi tasking Now take a moment to write or talk about how you FEEL while multi tasking and

what physical or emotional signs you can learn to recognize DO YOU NOTICE clenched jaw or a frown hunched shoulders aches and pains DO YOU FEEL tired or depressed overwhelmed impatient WRITE OR TALK ABOUT IT

We re moving down our list about how to alleviate the stress of multi tasking 1 Learn about its effects 2 Talk or journal about how it stresses you 3 Recognize when you re multitasking 4 Switch to single tasking

Recognize when you re multi tasking You ve written or talked about how you feel and what you notice when you re multi tasking The next step is to catch yourself in the moment How do you do that

AWARENESS Practice being aware of your body and what it s telling you of your mind and what your emotions are Meditation Yoga Mindfulness Practices Centering Prayer

AWARENESS These are long term life long practices recommended by experts in many disciplines For the purposes of this presentation here is how to bring yourself into the present moment in order to switch to singletasking

BREATHE

RIGHT NOW Take a slow deep breath Take another Take another

Making the switch and how it benefits the people you serve So you re in your office or a meeting room You re waiting for a client patient etc You realize you re scattered fatigued and stuck in multitasking mode

What do you do You ve already been practicing how to make the switch from multi tasking to single tasking Breathe Eliminate distractions

A small lecture In my experience this strategy works best along with a daily intentional practice Twenty five years ago I began with just a few minutes every morning Today I choose from a variety of techniques centering prayer meditation deep relaxation mantras beads music

Learn what works for you If you don t already have a daily intentional quiet practice do some exploring and experimenting It s really gratifying to find the technique s that help you to inner peace and quietude You ll be glad you did and

The people you serve will benefit The people you serve deserve the very best from you You cannot give them your very best when you re distracted fatigued and unable to be fully present

SINGLE TASKING with your client Let s review You ve learned how stressful multi tasking is You ve thought about how it makes you feel You ve learned how to make the switch to singletasking

You ve agreed that the people you serve deserve the very best from you

So now let s look at some basics

Your Preparation Before your client comes in you have Eliminated distractions Breathed deeply and slowly three times

Ambiance Your cell phone is off If you must have it on for an important call explain this and apologize for the necessity Same for email The space is quiet and conducive to conversation or confidential sharing The space holds some bit of beauty flowers a poster or photo etc

Body Language Make eye contact as much as possible especially if you re typing or writing notes Nod occasionally face or lean toward your client Practice good listening skills repeat what you ve heard check in to make sure you ve understood make sure they re finished before you respond

Body Language Your facial expression is quiet yet expresses emotion appropriate to the moment Your hands are still when you re not typing or writing Your gaze is steady when you re not typing or writing

SINGLE TASKING is all about being fully present

Now It s Your Turn What do you want to do or change or add in order to be in SINGLE TASK mode when your client enters your space

Your Turn Be intentional about this planning Write down your ideas then set a goal to implement them within a certain number of days

Your Turn Here are some website ideas to get you started on your exploration and experimentation Calm Buddhify DailyOM Do Nothing for Two Minutes

One final thought You can t care well for others unless you first care well for yourself

Thank you for caring

More about Forum for Growth in Service CORE COURSES for health care and education professionals and caregivers social workers case managers nurses teachers etc MINI COURSE for developing your own self care plan MINI COURSE on the art of single tasking FREE DOWNLOADS on listening skills self care and more

More about Forum for Growth in Service CLASS TOPICS INCLUDE Authenticity in Service Implicit Bias Self Care and Boundaries Stress and Burnout

For people who want to serve others authentically compassionately and effectively Visit us at https forumatcaroldmarsh com

LINKS

Forum for Growth in Service

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Carol D. Marsh Author Website

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Purchase Nowhere Else I Want to Be: A Memoir 

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