A strong argument to stop at Franklin Covey and buy a day planner.
By Douglas Byrne (Occasional Multitasker)
"Multitasking? I can’t do two things at once. I can’t even do one thing at once." — Helena Bonham Carter
I think I need an intern.
Believe it or not, I don't keep a calendar. If I do, it's like my brain goes on "delete", because I no longer have to remember my to-do list; I wrote it down somewhere. So I keep a mental calendar, trusting my memory to get me through.
As I get older, this is becoming a problem. A big problem. As a result, this past Saturday, I double-booked my day.
I had been at home, preparing myself for a telephone interview for a job that would give my Master Plan a propelling motion when I received a call from a friend letting me know he'd be by to pick me up for our lunchdate in about five minutes.
Me: Uh, I think you're mistaken. Our plans are for tomorrow, the 18th.
Nick: That's today.
Me: No, it isn't. Today is Saturday. The 18th tomorrow.
Nick: No. Today is the 18th. Tomorrow, Sunday, is the 19th.
Me: (checking the date on phone) Ohgod.
What the hell did I just do? And what else was double-planned for my day? How much juggling would I have to do to make sure I got everything done? Do I cancel things off of my to-do list, or I do persevere? Persevere I did.
I kept my lunch with Nick, and in the process had my interview from our table at the Tea House.
Of course, this made me re-examine the rest of my day and what I had gotten myself in to, and reminded me of the time I scheduled a full day of events on April 31st. Did you know that there wasn't an April 31st?
In the afternoon, I had a Skype date with Scottie that also corresponded with a voice lesson. No problem there; I brought Scottie with. I'm still amazed by modern technology. (In retrospect, I think Scottie was bored by this, and my voice teacher was annoyed.)
For my evening, I had rsvp'd to go to a party with friends, while going to a movie with another friend. Easy. I went to see an early-evening showing of the Sparkle remake (I loved it, in spite of its grand departure from the original) and showed up at the party fashionably late.
I did it all!
It goes to show: there really are forty-eight hours in each day, at least for me. I may attempt this multitaking thing again.
And this way, when I'm dead, I'll only be half as old as I really am.
Although, according to my official bio, I already am...
(Valerie Bertinelli should have learned to budget her time better.)
Douglas Byrne is nineteen and had nothing to do on Sunday.
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