Sometimes messages come in threes. Last week one writer friend said that she doesn’t waste her “best time” checking email. First thing in the morning is reserved for writing. Busy work can be done at her less creative times of day. Then another friend said that she learned from a productivity expert to check email at noon and four every day, instead of every two minutes, as some of us are prone to do. Both of these suggestions reinforce the message of The Power of Slow by Christine Louise Hohlbaum, a book that arrived in the mail just as I was trying to slow down and focus my energy.
Christine and I “met” on the Internet, and she was intrigued to meet a real live Quaker, after mentioning Quaker worship in her book. She posted a review of my book on her blog a few months ago, and I offered to do the same when her book came out. So it was funny that hers arrived just as I was recovering from a cold brought on by too much busyness. She is clear that The Power of Slow isn’t a “time management book,” arguing that it is impossible to manage time. Despite the subtitle (101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World), it is a book about being mindful in our use of time in order to fulfill our true purpose. This is one of the many places our messages complement each other. She advocates quiet time and what I would call discernment to figure out how we are meant to spend our time (though she doesn’t use religious language). The principles, exercises, and anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book are designed to help people let go of their hectic habits and embrace a saner way of living.
I appreciated Christine’s invitation in the Introduction to skip around the book, rather than reading it straight through, if that was what worked for us. I found there were many places where I agreed with her point and didn’t need to read all the exercises to benefit from the reminder. For example, I didn’t need step-by-step lessons in how to say, “No.” I’ve gotten pretty good at that, as some members of my meeting will attest. The chapter I found the most helpful was “The Myth of Multitasking” which challenged some of my habits, like having multiple windows open on my computer at all times. The book quotes neuroscientists and psychologists who all seem to agree: “Multitasking does not help us do things faster.” While I will continue to defend folding the laundry while carrying on a light conversation with my children (especially if they’re helping me), the book convinced me that my computer habits are far from efficient. Because I am in a stage of book publicity where I occasionally get emails that need quick responses, I tend to check my email with ridiculous frequency, often opening emails that are clearly not emergencies and then getting totally sidetracked. By the time I’ve responded to a question about meeting business, looked to see what’s for sale on Borders this week, and followed a Facebook link to a funny or political video, I’ve totally forgotten what I was supposed to be doing–and gotten four more emails. This may be why the to-do list I wrote a month ago still has so many items without lines through them.
I’ve come away from The Power of Slow resolved to wait to answer emails that are not true emergencies, a little change that I suspect will pay big dividends. I’m also reminded to continue to nurture my own spirit during a hectic fall, a message I’ll carry with me as I head to Woolman Hill tomorrow. I hope Christine finds a wide audience for her message, which is needed in our hectic “split screen” world.
Many warm thanks for your wonderful review, Eileen. May your book sales be beyond your wildest dreams! As we enter the busy holiday season, remember that if we do not occasionally go within, we will go without! Best to you!
Ooo, your description of a "quick" check of your email is *waaayy* to familiar! Sounds like a great book. I’m enjoying your latest book right now by the way. I can’t afford a hard-cover book purchase for myself right now, but I requested that my local library buy it, and they did! :o) I’m trying to finish it quickly so it can go out on the "new non-fiction" display asap and make it’s way to others!
Thanks, Stephanie!
Eileen,
Thanks for contacting me! I look forward very much to your reading at Abington Friends Meeting on the 15th. Yes, email is hideously distracting. And the ease of endless linking on the Internet leads to New! Weird! kinds of inefficiency. I read a wonderful short story recently on an online magazine, and for the life of me I can’t remember what the name of the story OR the magazine was…not to mention the author. I find it discomfiting (to use a good old Quaker word) that the internet is so real but, that it isn’t a physical place. I can’t say, oh, yes, I stumbled across that story when I found an old magazine that someone had left on the train I took to Providence last summer….oh, yes, it was sitting next to a half empty can of coke…oh, yes, the magazine had a red cover like the tin can…oh, yes, it was Tin House.
Anyway, I look forward to meeting you very much, and also to purchasing your book!
Thanks, Helen! By the way, folks, Helen is a new Quaker blogger, so welcome her to the blogosphere (even if it isn’t a real place).
Your observations are very much in line with my own experiences. On one hand, one of my favorite relaxing activities is knitting while doing something else, usually watching a DVD or chatting with friends; on the other hand, when I write, it works best when I’m not doing anything else. I don’t necessarily need long blocks of time, I need focused blocks of time. Ten minutes of being totally immersed in the story is far more productive of good prose than an hour of having my mind divided between twelve different directions.
PS Welcome, Friend Helen!
— Deborah, who attends Santa Cruz Monthly Meeting