There’s something to be said for being busy.
It seems like over the past several months I’ve been woefully inefficient when it comes to writing. I have big intentions…a day wide open in front of me, nothing on the calendar, the perfect opportunity to churn out some pages. What happens? A lot of nothing. I stare at a blank screen for a while, I go online and waste time, I find reasons to get up from my desk and wander around the house. And at the end of the day? Not much, if anything, to show. Why? Well, I think I may have found the answer. Warning: This isn’t rocket science, just something I had forgotten and have recently rediscovered.
I’ve been working at my “real” job much more in the past several weeks. I have a part-time, on-call sort of job so there are busy times and not–so-busy times. Lately, it’s been very busy. When I get home after working all day, there are a dozen different things that need my attention. I get them done, efficiently I might add because I’m in work mode, and move on to writing. And surprise of surprises! I’m actually writing. Turns out, having a full schedule makes me get stuff done. Seems like this is something I should have known.
Since my recent breakthrough, I’ve been thinking back to when my kids were in school and involved in sports and countless other activities. My daughter, especially, could have given lessons in efficiency. She was a competitive swimmer, played other sports, participated in school activities and worked from the time she was old enough. Necessity taught her to use her time wisely and she seemed able to find seventy minutes in every hour. She made it to school, to practice and to work on time while still getting her homework done and finding time for fun. I remember the phone call, after she had started college, when she told me she’d come to a realization. Apparently having more free time meant her school work was suffering. She joined a swim club in college just so she’d be busier!
The same is true for me. When I quit my full-time job I envisioned getting so many things done around the house that I had been putting off for years. And I would write. I’d sit at my desk, sip my coffee, and the words would flow. Nothing to interrupt me, nowhere I had to be…a perfect environment. Not so. Not even close.
So, I’ve again realized what I should have never forgotten. Keep myself busy, keep my mind cranking, and wonderful things will happen.
It seems like over the past several months I’ve been woefully inefficient when it comes to writing. I have big intentions…a day wide open in front of me, nothing on the calendar, the perfect opportunity to churn out some pages. What happens? A lot of nothing. I stare at a blank screen for a while, I go online and waste time, I find reasons to get up from my desk and wander around the house. And at the end of the day? Not much, if anything, to show. Why? Well, I think I may have found the answer. Warning: This isn’t rocket science, just something I had forgotten and have recently rediscovered.
I’ve been working at my “real” job much more in the past several weeks. I have a part-time, on-call sort of job so there are busy times and not–so-busy times. Lately, it’s been very busy. When I get home after working all day, there are a dozen different things that need my attention. I get them done, efficiently I might add because I’m in work mode, and move on to writing. And surprise of surprises! I’m actually writing. Turns out, having a full schedule makes me get stuff done. Seems like this is something I should have known.
Since my recent breakthrough, I’ve been thinking back to when my kids were in school and involved in sports and countless other activities. My daughter, especially, could have given lessons in efficiency. She was a competitive swimmer, played other sports, participated in school activities and worked from the time she was old enough. Necessity taught her to use her time wisely and she seemed able to find seventy minutes in every hour. She made it to school, to practice and to work on time while still getting her homework done and finding time for fun. I remember the phone call, after she had started college, when she told me she’d come to a realization. Apparently having more free time meant her school work was suffering. She joined a swim club in college just so she’d be busier!
The same is true for me. When I quit my full-time job I envisioned getting so many things done around the house that I had been putting off for years. And I would write. I’d sit at my desk, sip my coffee, and the words would flow. Nothing to interrupt me, nowhere I had to be…a perfect environment. Not so. Not even close.
So, I’ve again realized what I should have never forgotten. Keep myself busy, keep my mind cranking, and wonderful things will happen.
RSS Feed