Multi-tasking

Supposedly women are great at multi-tasking.  And I guess if you call making dinner, helping with homework, cleaning the kitchen, and fixing the computer all while talking on the phone multi-tasking...then I can do it.  I just don't do it well.  I can handle all the little things like the scenario above, but when it comes to major projects it's really hard for me to move ahead with a project until the previous project is finished.

For example my school work, I like to work on one paper or assignment at a time.  When that one is finished then I can move on to the next one.  I have a really hard time jumping around from assignment to assignment.  Luckily I work pretty far ahead of time usually and have time to work in this manner.

Where I really run into trouble is with big events such as planning a party, moving, planning for a vacation or holiday etc.  If I have several events coming up it is really hard for me to start on one event before the previous event is finished.  Like right now, I am planning on moving at the end of the month.  So, I should start packing.  But we don't have a for sure approval on the house that we want...so it's hard for me to start packing...even though if this house doesn't work, another one will.  I am moving.  (My positive thinking mantra right now :-)  Another step is I have to get my house in order and looking nice and neat so our landlords can rent it out.  On top of that I have my schoolwork, my youngest came home with two big projects due the Monday after we plan on moving and my regular day to day life happenings.  With all this going on I have to get started on something...cleaning, packing, school work...something.  And what am I doing?  Writing a blog entry.

It's like my mind goes into overload and shuts down.  But let me evaluate what I did today.  I got one room in the house cleaned, I wrote a paper that isn't due until the end of April, I did a couple loads of laundry, got a great idea for my daughter's science fair project and I found someone who can give me a bunch of boxes. So all in all, not a wasted day, but there is so much more to do.  I just cannot get past the fact that I do not know for sure if we have the house or not.  It's like that will set my mind free to start working on all these projects that need to happen in order for me to move.

How do I get past this...what is it that allows people to work on several things at once and get them all done?  Where is that multi-tasking gene that I missed out on?  Can I get it injected please!