The Only Multitasking That Works

Today I had a call with a friend that nourished me in all areas.

I received connection, I breathed fresh air, and I moved my body. By the time we were wrapping up, we had covered a lot of ground in our conversation and I had covered 6.28 miles, simply by walking around the block.

And I got to see a glorious sunset.

My secret?

We spoke by phone.

Good, old-fashioned phone. Well, ok, maybe not old-fashioned because it was a cell phone. But you get the point.

This is the only type of multitasking that actually works.

I know my body feels better when I move it in the afternoon as well as in the morning. But motivating in the afternoon is hard for me. I can get sucked into work and blow through my alarms.

Scheduling a call with a friend for the late afternoon forces me to put work aside.

Using the phone gives me freedom to move around.

Today it was 6.28 miles. Two weeks ago I covered 4.5 miles without leaving the house (it was really cold and snowing).

Zoom is still an essential tool of my day; I’m grateful for Zoom yoga classes and the ability to gather with groups in virtual circle over Zoom. It’s a powerful way to build connection with new friends or reestablish connection with old friends.

And… we are all so over-stimulated.

I try to save my Zooms for when I need to use them. If I don’t need to see the other person or share my screen, the phone is more effective.

Without the distractions of my desk and computer, or the need to be seen on screen I can move around, whether it’s puttering around the house or walking around the block. The fidgeting or movement helps me listen more attentively.

Another thing I can do on the phone that helps me listen more attentively is close my eyes (I try not to do this when walking, especially if there’s traffic).

Sometimes it’s more effective not to see the person on the other end of the call.

With so many options for connecting these days, it might seem quaint to take calls on the phone. But all things come around in their season.

Podcasts are booming. Clubhouse is the latest social media sensation. Audio is having a resurgence.

For your next meeting, try the phone.