My Parallel Computing Mind

I am reading some literature about millennial children and technologies. It is said that these children are typically very comfortable with using technologies and are usually super-multitasking. They claim that: listening to music while studying actually help me concentrate, but the parents simply don't understand us! So I began to re-think the whole notion of multitasking helping concentrate. I was paranoid about that my mind cannot concentrate, because it keeps getting distracted and wants to find some other things to do. Now I begin to realize that this probably is not a bad thing.

First, I don't think this is the result from using modern technologies, because I don't regard myself as a technology geek, I didn't grow up in a super-technological environment or play a lot of video games as the millennial children do. Nor do I feel completely comfortable with using technologies as they do. I feel my brain is naturally capable for multitasking, and if I restrain it, it will have extra energy that cannot be released, and will feel uncomfortable.This extra energy cannot be added to the single task I try to concentrate on, it is just extra and must be released through some other channels to keep my brain healthy. Second, if this empirical feeling is generalizable to people other than me, that is, most people's brain are naturally multi-tasking, there should be all kinds of channels to release the extra energy, but it also highly individual, certain people will feel more comfortable using certain ways than other people. I wasn't feeling comfortable working while listening to music, especially music with lyrics when I was in China,and was thinking in Chinese. Now since most of time I use English in my work and daily life, I feel listening to music with Chinese lyrics can help me concentrate on my English work. I feel my brain think in English and listen in Chinese, and well comprehend them both at the same time. Also since they are completely different languages, they won't interrupt each other. The Chinese songs make me feel at home and keep me calm, warm and awake. Consequently, this calm and secure feeling help me concentrate more in my English thinking. Third, based on my arguments above, the modern technologies actually provide the children more choice of channels to release their extra brain energy, as long as the children find the certain channels that they feel comfortable with, modern technologies have the great potential to help children more concentrate rather than distracted, and keep their brain healthy. Finally, my opinion here is purely empirical, and at this moment, I don't know any of the theories of human mind or linguistics that can support the arguments, but I think there should be some interesting things there if I look into, and I will keep an eye on them, and if any of my readers know something about relevant theories, please don't hesitate to give some advice. Anyway, I am so released that I found some excuse for my "distracted" mind and some effective ways (working bilingually) to help me concentrate.

By the way, today is Valenti's day. It's overall not a bad day, though I still do not have a boyfriend with whom I can celebrate this holiday. I got a call from China in the morning, I went out for dinner in a Japanese-Karen restaurant with a female friend and had a pleasant conversation. When I got home in the evening, I found a box of chocolate on my desk from my sweetheart dear roommate! So, happy Valenti's day, no matter whether you married, in a relationship, or still single! Enjoy the time being single, when you are still single!