Why I've Decided to Ditch Multitasking and How It's Helped Decrease My Stress + Anxiety

Let me preface this post by telling y'all that I am was the queen of multitasking. I took pride in completing as many tasks as I could at one time. I felt like I was being productive - hustling for the greater good.
Well I've recently had a little mindset shift.
My schedule is filled to the brim since going back to school...which is to be expected. But here's the thing - I wasn't cutting out things that weren't serving me anymore. I just kept stacking my plate higher and wider, cramming as much as I could onto my plate. You know what happens next - everything comes crashing down (think of the game Jenga).
Last week I hit a breaking point. I felt overcome with anxiety. Suffocated by my daily "to do" task list. I was filling every second of every day with something productive. I felt guilty if I took some time to relax or just go with the flow of a day (even on the weekend, you guys). I realized how much of an issue this was. I knew that I didn't want to go down this path any further than I already had.
So I decided to take control. Because truthfully - I am in control of my life, right? I choose how to react to circumstances. I choose how my attitude is going to be each and every day. I choose what I want on my plate.
I've been focusing a lot on self-love: journaling, yoga, meditation. My main goal with this is to BE PRESENT. I frequently catch myself dwelling on the past or more often - thinking about the future. Not just healthily thinking about it, but obsessing over it. Stressing over it. 
I've been trying to make small changes every day that ultimately help me overcome anxiety and stress. One of those changes is ditching multitasking.
Sounds easy enough, right? While it might be for some, it has been challenging for me. I'm used to folding laundry, while voice commanding my phone to respond to emails, while watching a lecture video for class on my iPad, etc. I would sit down at the end of the day and everything seemed like a blur. Like I knew that I had accomplished a ton, but I didn't feel like I had really connected with anything that I'd done. Make sense?
Since ditching multitasking (it's only been a few days but I can already tell a HUGE difference y'all...I promise), I feel more connected to the tasks that I am doing. I feel like I'm putting 100% into everything. I feel more present. More grounded. Less stressed out. Less anxious.
Basically what I'm saying is that I'm no longer the queen of multitasking, and I couldn't be happier to remove that title from behind my name.
I know that some people thrive off of multitasking - and that's totally fine! We're all different. But if you're a multitasker and you feel anxious/stressed/drained, I highly recommend that you try hanging up the multitasking. Instead, be present and engaged in each task that you complete...it has made a world of difference for me!
xo, Jess
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