boulevard-ijab (IJA & ME) - one half completing the other half....

Multi-tasking

A local radion station called Fly FM, is encouraging its listeners (especially drivers) to keep multi-tasking OFF the road, and by that, they mean talking on the phone while driving, whether with hands-free kit or not. This is because, during phone conversation, our concentration won't be 100% on the road and chances are, we are more concerned with what to say (or hear). The station does acknowledge however, the need for us to multi-task in our daily activities, but to do the same while driving is a complete NO-NO.

Now here's what I think with regard to multi-tasking. In my opinion, it's almost incomprehensible to perform one task and one task only, without doing other 'task(s)' at the same time. Like for examples, a lady may be enjoying her cup of coffee in the park while reading her newly-purchased novel or a man puffing some smoke while 'sitting down' in the loo (or should I say, he is inhaling extra toxics into the lungs, hehe...).

Those other tasks usually involve some physical activities, like a mother who is singing nursery rhymes while changing her baby's diaper. However, sometimes it may not be too obvious that someone is 'multi-tasking', like surely you must have experienced how your minds (suddenly) just wanders off instead of paying attention to the teacher in class, or your book is there on the table, waiting to be read and yet, you are reminiscing your good times with your loved one.

Multi-task may seem like doing tasks which are of different nature from the main task. For example, eating some curry puffs (it satisfies our hunger), while writing to a client (it fulfills our responsibility as an employee), or reading a newspaper (it keeps us informed of what's going on), while watching television (it keeps us entertained).

Other tasks may also serve the same purpose as the main one. One good example is when Muslims recite Arabic verses in their prayers, instead of just blindly saying them, we are to understand the meanings behind the verses, so that we can stay khusyu' and tawadu' and humble before Him. Understanding the meanings of those verses in our minds and hearts, especially if our mother tongue is not Arabic is a form of multi-tasking too.

So, we can say that it is in human nature to multi-task. Therefore, if someone were to say that they are always 100% focused in whatever they do, I guess we can call them a bluff. If multi-tasking doesn't (greatly) affect our performance, or cause any unwanted complications as a result, then I think it should be fine. In fact, to some extent, it can actually improve our concentration and keep us motivated in completing the main task. After all, we are not robots or machines, are we?

Anyway, on the radio station's effort to remind listeners about the danger of talking on the phone while driving - I'm all out agreeing with them. However, if you feel like you need some company to keep you awake while on the road, then switch on that car stereo and start listening to Al Qur'an recitals, or motivational tapes, or your favourite songs, whichever suits your liking! Now that kind of multi-tasking is allowed... :-) But don't be undecisive though - keep changing the stations or your CD's would somehow distract you and would pose as much threat to your life and others as talking on the phone while driving.

Labels: Cartoons, Life

posted by The Pisces Man @ 12:25 am