You're all feeling it — the stress of multitasking, the rush of going from one place to the other, the disconnect of trying to juggle too many balls at once. The rush doesn't make you feel competent or in control. It just leaves you feeling drained and as if you're living several identities, all of them short-changed and strung-out on coffee.
All the magazines say you need to be centered, peaceful, and take your time to live in the moment. But that's pretty darned hard to remember when you're grabbing your bag to run out the door, if you even get the right bag. Multitasking itself is hard enough, but juggling our multiple identities as well — chauffer, cook, spouse, parent — makes it awul hard even to know which present to be in. It's not as easy as taking a few breaths or squeezing a meditation in between running errands. If we had the time to do that, we wouldn't need to do it.
Now, Clark Kent never had this problem. He stepped into his grusty phone booth, and simply took on a new identity. Batman had his bat cave.
Why not have yours? I'm not saying to don a cap or buld a full-fledged changing area. But why not help yourself make your own traditions by gettin gyour silly on? Get some masking tape, or designate your own special room: just make sure it's a convenient place. If you're using tape, make a box on the floor, or if you're artsy a star shape. *
Then, let the fun begin. Working on your bills when it's time to drive your kids to music lessons? Jump into your “changing space” and take a deep breath, then turn into “driving person.” Come home late and only have half an hour to cook? You guessed it. You'll need to change into Food Person for this one.
The point is, take some time to breathe, and gift yourself with a moment of transition. A little silliness can help.
* In retrospect, it's probably not a good idea to make something that really looks like you're creating a satanic ritual, especially when the rest of your family has been away and you and your daughter may not be home when they get back, because who knows what they'll think? “Mommy's been watching a little too much Supernatural, kids.” “Daddy, where are the cats?”
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