This is a problem that I know has gotten progressively worse as I've gotten older. It seems as though even when I'm doing things that I've been meaning to do for some time (say, watch a TV episode, or read a book), I find that I can't do just that one thing without feeling anxious.
While watching TV, I have uncontrollable impulses to nibble on small candies, or pluck my eyebrows, or file my nails, etc. Now, if it's an old show or a movie that I've seen many times, this isn't so problematic, but I'm compelled to do these things to the point where I find myself missing out on key parts of new shows because I just couldn't sit still! It's getting really frustrating not being able to enjoy the stuff I love because I feel like I should be doing other things.
The need to feel productive is obviously a vestigial habit left over from when I was going to school, when every moment of time was precious and had to be utilized effectively. Now that I have plenty of time to myself, I should be able to appreciate it more fully, but I can't because of these impulses to multi-task. The great thinker Michel de Montaigne once said (and I'm really horribly paraphrasing because I can't find my copy of his works, nor the quote on the internet) "You cannot run, shit, and philosophize all at the same time." Meaning, of course, that while you may think it thrifty and wise to multi-task constantly, you really can't do a million things at once. And more importantly, you shouldn't do a million things at once, because then you're doing all things poorly, or at least, not giving each thing the full attention it probably deserves.
I'm a great admirer of Montaigne and I think his logic is sound..... if only I could follow his advice! Arg, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills lately, may be it's stress? I just want to be able to watch an episode of Battlestar Galactica without missing out on something important and having to rewind, is that so much to ask?
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