Bathtub Tai Chi

Bathtub Tai Chi

I have found that multitasking is generally inefficient. My desire to do more and more (rather than less and less) deceives me into thinking I can actually accomplish more and more doing various tasks simultaneously. This make is almost impossible to  be as careful at the end as at the beginning, no matter what I am doing. Well, I finally have learned my lesson. I’m not sure it is learning that accounts for my increased wisdom in this matter. More likely it is because I’m older and have less energy to run around chasing after desires as in my youth.

Kyle's Family Friendly Version

However, I feel that there is one avenue of multitasking that really does pay off.  Maintaining good posture while doing things is multitasking in that you have to ‘keep centered’ all the while. The photo above shows another version of multitasking – drying off after a bath and training balance simultaneously⁽¹⁾. Balance becomes increasingly important as we age, and doing something to counter the deterioration of balance that creeps up on us over the years makes sense.

Sitting on the floor either erect, with a bit of a forward bend, or other ‘yoga like’ things counters some of the negative side of sedentary activity.  In the photo here I am flossing my teeth, reading Science News, and bending forward. Three activities done simultaneously and additive (neither interferes with the other, as far as I see).

Forward bending, flossing and studing

I expect the reason this kind of multitasking is additive is that the activities are duties, not desire driven pleasures or goals, except for my wish to do what is right for my body.  The wish to do what is ‘right’ must be the core definition of Buddha’s Fourth Truth:  “… whose will is bent on what he ought to do, whose sole desire is the performance of his duty…” .

⁽¹⁾ The smiley face version of my was son Kyle’s creation. It is surprising how modest both my sons are. Perhaps it’s a reaction to how little concern I have for such things. To see a humorous take on this, see  their weekly video blog, The Abbott-y Blogcast.