Why we're doing a month of single-tasking in September
Words Emma Vidgen // @emma_vee
In September we’re launching our first ever Wayward challenge: 30 days of Single-Tasking. You can join the challenge (#30daysofsingletasking) by completing one single-tasking activity everyday.
We’ll be nominating an activity each day of the month and encouraging our community to give it a go. Follow us on instagram – we’ll announce our daily challenge on stories – and join our mailing list for updates.
WEEK 2
SEPTEMBER 8
Walk outside mindfully for 10 minutes – no podcasts, no music.
SEPTEMBER 9
Eat breakfast mindfully, no screens.
SEPTEMBER 10
Rest with your legs up the wall for five minutes.
SEPTEMBER 11
Moisturise your body, top to toe.
SEPTEMBER 12
Pause for three minutes and tune into the sounds around you. Name all the sounds you can hear.
SEPTEMBER 13
Check in on someone and ask about their day. Listen without interjecting.
SEPTEMBER 14
Make and drink a cup of tea or coffee mindfully.
WEEK 1
1 SEPTEMBER
Watch a TV show from start to finish – no peeking at your devices or laptop, just focus on the program.
2 SEPTEMBER
Rest in child’s pose for five minutes.
3 SEPTEMBER
Read one chapter of a book from start to finish without stopping to check phone or email.
4 SEPTEMBER
Eat a piece of fruit mindfully. No distractions, just savour it from beginning to end, paying attention to the way it feels in your mouth, the texture, the taste and the smell.
5 SEPTEMBER
Brush your hair for five minutes. No phone, no TV, just brush your hair and notice the sensations as you do it.
6 SEPTEMBER
Have a shower and focus on the rhythm of your breath and the sensations in your body throughout. If you get distracted, come back to noticing your breath and the feeling of the water.
7 SEPTEMBER
Spray your favourite perfume and notice how it smells. See if you can notice and name each of the notes.
what is THE INSPIRATION FOR #30DAYSOFSINGLETASKING ?
You can find out more about the inspiration for the #30daysofsingletasking challenge here but in a nutshell, the idea came to us after we noticed just how hard it was to do one thing at one time. “Even fun things like watching TV had become a moment of multi-tasking,” says Emma. Finding the time to meditate can be difficult, especially when you’re just starting out. Single-tasking is a way to bring a meditative focus and intention to everyday activities without having to carve out time for a formal practice.
Why September is the perfect time to try single-tasking
We decided to launch the challenge in September because it coincided with some major astrology which all point towards a need to slow down. The main perpetrator is Mars retrograde (9 September – 15 November) which could manifest as low energy, frustration and/or a lack of progress. In addition, Mars will square Saturn (exact towards the end of the month), which will feel a bit like a cosmic handbrake on any kind of momentum. Rather than struggle through, the most graceful way to survive the gridlock is to take it slow. Single-tasking is a great place to start!