I was asking myself that question as I stared into the dryer. I went to the pantry to get a can of coke. Why would my can of coke be in the dryer? Sometimes I wonder how I make it through the day and get back home. My husband is sometimes just as bad. He found a can of tomatoes he did put in the freezer. What is happening to us? I know we are older and all that but if this is how its going then the future may not be so bright.
We have so much going on in our worlds. It seems we need to fill every waking moment with something to do or something to think about. Problems need to be solved, ours and others sometimes. We have to answer emails and text to be constantly in contact with people. Information changes so quickly we feel left out if we are not on the latest feed from Facebook or checking our Instagram. Then add to that the “normal” everyday things of getting groceries, taking the kids to practice, making sure the laundry is done, etc. Yikes!
When I stepped back and looked at the dryer situation, I realized I was not really paying attention to what I was doing or where I was going. I was thinking about getting to work and how much time I had left before I had to leave. I was also thinking about what I was going to cook for supper and do I need to start the car and let it warm up because it is really cold outside. So this gave me a clue as to why I was looking for the coke in the dryer. I wasn't really present in the moment. I was lost in space. If you have this happening to you, then maybe you can try some of these skills to help you slow down and pay attention.
Talk to yourself about what you are doing. EX: “I am going to the pantry to get a coke”. This will help you stay focused on the one thing you need to be doing right now. You don't have to say it out loud if you don't want to. Just think of one single thing at a time. This can be done with simple or complex things, keeping you in the moment and focused.
Make notes either on your phone or on a calendar or notebook. Write down the things you are thinking about. Then look at each one and do what you can at that moment to accomplish that task. . If nothing then move on to the next item. Keep the notes with you to remind you of your tasks. Trying to keep all that straight in your mind will just make you more out of focus.
Be in the moment. Be grounded. Look around and pick something to describe to yourself. A painting on the wall, a car in front of you, your shirt. It can be anything. This helps when we feel overwhelmed.
Which leads to this point. Not everything is yours to accomplish and not everything you need to accomplish has to be done right now. Set boundaries so you are not trying to take over others responsibilities. Make a schedule that you can live with that will allow you some down time during the day.
Maybe these things will help you stay in the moment and not trying to think of everything at once. It really isn't good for our brains. I hope this keeps you out of the dryer.
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