In this time of December and as the year comes to a close, it seems like as women and mothers we have so many tabs open.
We’ve got more responsibility, more to hold, more to remember.
This season asks us to buy the right gifts, still care for children who are on holiday, and somehow keep everything moving.
There’s so much going on.
And on top of that, many of us are still wanting to complete things, maybe at work, maybe personal things before the year ends.
So today, I’d really like us to explore the myth of multitasking.
We’ve always been told that women are natural multitaskers.
We even pride ourselves on being able to do more than one thing at once.
But the truth is: humans don’t actually multitask.
The brain can’t run two tasks at the same time.
It simply switches rapidly between them, one neural pathway powers down while another activates.
This high-frequency task switching carries a distinct neurological and metabolic cost.
And as mothers, this cost is even higher.
When we are pregnant, postpartum, or in the early years of raising children, our systems are already managing so much.
Shifting hormones.
Sleep changes.
Cognition.
Sensory processing.
So when we add multitasking, this rapid switching, on top of it all, strains our bodies and our minds.
And then it gets misinterpreted as us failing.
When really, it is simply a biological response.
This is why so many women feel scattered, overwhelmed, and mentally over their capacity.
So much of this load is unseen, unspoken, and unsupported.
And this is why, especially at this time of year, I keep reminding you, if you’ve been around for a while, you’ll know, to SLOW DOWN.
Slowing down makes a huge difference.
When you are doing one thing, do it completely.
With your full focus.
With your attention fully there.
Don’t try to do something else at the same time.
I promise you: you get more done, and you feel more settled within yourself, calmer and grounded.
An invitation to reflect:
- Where in your day are you switching the most? What would it look like to bring your full presence to just one thing?
- When do you feel the first signs of overwhelm or scattered energy? What does your body need at that moment?
Wishing you a time of slowing down, I am in Joburg in December for in person and virtual consults.