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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." - Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Oct. 3, 2009
Totally maxed out? Stop multitasking and start focusing
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Insight often arises at the most surprising times. Last week was a very challenging one. Endless demands from emails and faxes, phone calls and just the daily hassles of modern life. On top of that I had been invited to a neighborhood gathering. I was not in the mood for socializing, but my wife and I felt a commitment to our neighbors so we went.
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A professional woman in her early 60s shared with me the challenges that she faced in business. She would come home exhausted at the end of every day. When she put a loaf of bread in the dryer, she said she knew she had to stop burning the candle at both ends.
And then she shared something that really struck me...
She said she learned to replace multitasking with being present in the moment. She emphasized the importance of being in the moment with others, connecting with them and being a good listener — not thinking ahead to what you want to say or interrupting with unsolicited advice.
Total engagement. Being present. Staying in the moment. These are hardly new concepts, but nonetheless vital ones for my family and me.
Have you experienced similar insights?
10 comments posted
October 23, 2009 9:47 a.m.
I agree with all the excellent responses.I am a multitasker like many working moms who are proffessionals. When I know I am putting the milk can in a closet than in the fridge, I know to stop and what helps me is to do the things I like to do and enjoy. I sit in my car turn on the music and go to a local mall or a mom and pop store and like to talk to people. very relaxing for me.
- uma
October 9, 2009 9:51 a.m.
i am a mother of grown up "kids" and at times i feel that their needs are always my priority and i really wanted to get a life outside of office-home-office-home routine
- imelda
October 7, 2009 9:35 a.m.
I totally relate. I think this is an epidemic in our crazy world.
- Kathryn
October 6, 2009 11:56 p.m.
It's a part of our daily lives that we so often neglect - taking time out to listen to ourselves, to what our body tells us. We have reached a stage that constant bombarding with information makes us think always ahead often imaginging complex situations and trying to cope with them. I was recommended the therapy of 'being thankful to what you have' which helps you cope with being in the present, being focused on what you are dealing with at the moment and most important of all, telling yourself that you could be in a worse situation or dealing with something that you are unable to cope with. Ultimately its strength of the mind that helps you. Self awareness, meditation, simple breathing techniques and slowing down your pace of life make a drastic change to your life. Set yourself achievable goals and don't compare yourself constantly with someone else who you think has much more. Being aware of your strengths and weakness help you perform better without wasting time and effort on something that you may not achieve. That way you will never be content or be at peace with yourself. After all not everyone in this world can achieve everything.
- Priyadarshini
October 6, 2009 11:17 p.m.
I can empathize with the lady who put the loaf of bread in the dryer. I used to have a really stressful sales job that just had me thinking in 35 different directions at the same time. One day while not being alert to what was going on around me, I got carjacked. I lost my car and very nearly lost my life. This convinced me that people who are multitasking are a danger to the public and themselves. e.g. people who text or try to negotiate deals on the cell phone while driving. Instead of trying to do too many things poorly we should focus on just one thing and do it well.
- Fred
October 6, 2009 10:15 p.m.
It's such a simple truth; why do we have such a hard time with it? The non stop "noise" in our environment has to be quietened for us to think and really be present. It's not about how much activity we can cram into our day; rather it's about the quality of what we do.
- Mike
October 6, 2009 10:09 p.m.
It's also helpful to not have music,TV or some form of entertainment on all the time. We've all heard it said that "I couldn't hear myself think". There's a part of us (at least for some of us) that kicks in when there is the space of quietness.
- Rose
October 6, 2009 3:41 p.m.
There is an organization called Landmark Education (they have an office in Edina) and they do an intense weekend program called The Forum. Part of that training is learning active listening and staying in the moment. I would recommend it.
- Diana
October 5, 2009 10:26 a.m.
I read a book called The Myth of Multitasking by Crenshaw that really helped me start living in the moment more! I recommend it to others all the time, now.
- Marcy
October 4, 2009 6:59 p.m.
I painfuly understand how she felt. I have been trying to wake up every day and begin it by telling myself to be present in every moment of the day. Live it as if it were the last. Most days it actually works! How sad it is that we are all so wrapped up in obligation and commitment that we don't stop the madness and just breath, and feel, and live.
- Heather
10 comments posted