With a smile on my face as the interviewer asked me, “Angela, please provide me with an example of how you multi-task.” I was proud to rattle off numerous times when I displayed a superb ability to multi-task in corporate environments. After all, society tells us we should multi-task. Fit in as much as possible each day. Time is the enemy. Keep going. And in order to fit everything in, we’ve been instilled with the belief that we should multi-task. It’s the precise way to live our lives, right? Not really.

Let’s break it down with an example. At work, you’re inserting formulas into a spreadsheet when the phone rings. As you answer the call with your normal greeting, you continue working on the spreadsheet and receive a notification of a new email message at the bottom of your monitor (with a subject that catches your eye). Three tasks: a phone call, spreadsheet, and an email message. You might be giving 50% effort or attention to the phone call and 25% each of the spreadsheet and email message. The percentage is irrelevant because you are not giving one task 100%. How can you help the customer with 50% effort? How can you calculate formulas at 25%? You certainly can but you are not giving your full attention. You might make mistakes in the spreadsheet or you might second guess what you did after you get off the phone call and end up looking over your work again. Ultimately making more work for yourself. When the phone rings, answer the phone. Minimize the spreadsheet and turn off your email notifications.

I’ve stopped multi-tasking. And if someone asks me in an interview now, I politely tell them why I focus on tasks independent on each other. I give my full attention to one task at a time. I live in the now by not living in the past or worrying about the future. I am present.

As I write, I am occupied with writing only. I am attentive to the word I am typing at this moment . What am I not focused on? Whether this article gets rave reviews or a high amount of likes, shares, or subscribers as a result of readers resonating with my message. I am fulfilled already as I type. I am not writing this article for recognition or praise. I hold no expectation of the result of writing this article. I am fulfilled by sharing my words and messages with the collective. If I let the result of my writing be the justification of my writing that would be my ego talking. My ego, whose voice I’ve heard for many years of believing I was small or insignificant. My ego would love to see millions of views, likes, and followers as confirmation of my success. And if I don’t receive millions of likes and comments, my ego would tell me I’m worthless and a failure. By my standard, in my innermost part of myself, does not require that type of validation.  If I let the number of likes or comments correlate to my happiness that again would be my ego. I brush my ego to the side and write for my own fulfillment.

Practice being in the moment right now. Reading this article, focus only on my words, each sentence, and ultimately what you are taking away from it. When you are done, like and follow me… just kidding, my ego got in the way. When you are done, walk or stand up, take a deep breathe in and marvel at this moment. You have the beautiful opportunity to do anything you choose to do. Choose happiness. Choose to cherish this moment. Choose to live passionately.

And when your friend calls you, listen wholeheartedly to their words. Feel it. Don’t tidy up the kids play room, the kitchen, or your nightstand when you are listening. Sit down and listen. Don’t interrupt or overpower the conversation. When they call, in that very moment, it is the only thing that matters. Your mind is occupied with only your friend, their words, and conversation at that moment.

Your job or task is whatever you are doing in the moment. Try it out. And when you wash the dishes, wash the dishes well. Don’t let your eyes and mind wander to your cabinets which you’ve noticed have green residue from your homemade juice.

And when you live in the now, live well.