I have decided to dedicate a post on Thursday to therapy, and offer you the many tips I have learned on the couch. They will be a good reminder for me, as well, of something small I can concentrate on. Many of them are published in my book, “The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit.”

I realize some multitasking is required in our rushed culture. But do we really have to simultaneously cook dinner, talk to Mom, help with homework, and check email? If you were a stellar waiter in your past who could memorize the orders of a dozen tables while entertaining all of them with witty commentary on the fish du jour, maybe you thrive at juggling multiple tasks.

Me? I have trouble snacking on peanuts while making macaroni and cheese. Seriously. Twice while making mac and cheese I became distracted and dumped the packet of cheese flavoring into the boiling water. (That’s not the proper order.)

As a mom who works from home on many different projects, I thought focusing on one responsibility at a time would be impossible until I made myself abide by some simple rules: my computer is off when I’m not working, and my computer stays off in the evening and on weekends. My brain appreciated the new house rules and actually started to relax a bit.

I don’t care what the iPhone ads say, I don’t need to be in touch with everyone all the time. Multitasking is too damn stressful for me. So if you think you have fragile chemistry like I do, turn off your Crackberry and concentrate on the macaroni and cheese. Before you dump a packet of cheese flavoring into boiling water.