One at a Time

“The simple action of switching from one task to another is, in itself, a cognitive drain.” – G. Shawn Hunter

We like to think of ourselves as multitaskers. We like to think that we can do two things at once. Some of us claim not to be this way, but our cell phone usage says otherwise. We act like we are engaged in conversation with someone while doom-scrolling through Instagram or TikTok. We think we can do it, but in reality, we are only half doing it. This is why we shouldn’t use our phones and drive. A second of distraction could cost us our lives or even the lives of others. We think we’ve got it, but those near misses while driving say otherwise. The best way to stay focused on a topic is to just do one thing at a time. You might have to take steps to make sure you stay engaged, from keeping your phone put away while on a date with your significant other, or not having the TV on during family dinner. One thing I do while I am coaching other teachers is I don’t take notes with my computer. I only take notes with a notebook. If I need anything from it, I try to print it in advance in order for us to stay focused on the conversation at hand. Simple steps can help us be more engaged with our world.

Most of the time when I visit somewhere, my phone stays in my pocket. I typically use my camera for taking photos. During spring break, my family and I took a trip to Helen, Georgia. Helen is an alpine-themed town in Northeast Georgia. The shops and restaurants are always fun to check out. We visited several different places in town. One of our favorite days was when we spent the day walking around Helen. Of course, I grabbed my camera and brought it with me. At first, I used my normal lens, but I realized after a minute that this was not the lens I needed for the day. I used my lens from Retropia. I love this lens because it is lightweight. This makes it perfect to bring with me while on a walk. I also love that it is made from recycled disposable camera lenses. When I capture photos with it, it looks like the shot was captured with a film camera. It has various imperfections in the shot that give it a retro look. I also like how the lens doesn’t need to be focused. Just like an old-school disposable camera, all you have to do is point and shoot.