Here’s what happened this morning: I drank my coffee and wrote a page in my journal, which goes something like: fjwiefjoweijfwijfwhgw. And also, oweijfoweijfwei. Incoherent. Just as it should be.
And this morning, as is the case when I’m lucky, the owerowjfkwfwwe gave me a bunch of ideas for other stuff I’m excited to write about. So I opened my computer eager to write about all of that.
Except.
That adorable Mail icon dinged. And I couldn’t ignore the sexy little red announcement. Impossible!
So I thought, I’ll just check my e-mail really fast and then: Onward with the writing! But. There was an interesting e-mail message in there. Another coach asked a question that was relevant to something I’m working on. So I got all hyper and fired off an excitable response! An exclaimey one!!!
And I got hooked.
The e-mail was serendipitously related to the thing I wanted to write about this morning. And serendipity = cool! But it would have been much cooler if I’d done the writing I wanted to do first.
Because then I would have had actual insight to share, instead of the more frantic: Oh oh, me too!
So my attention got all scattered and focused somewhere ‘out there’. And I figured, Hey, I may as well check in everywhere else, right? Check it all! Head spinning with check, check, check! Aaaaaa!
And spewed out the other side.
Now I’m too hyper to write about what really needs writing about: The juicy stuff that floated into view when I was connected and reflective earlier this morning. Nope, I’m writing about this instead.
And I guess I can be a tiny bit grateful that I’m writing about anything at all. It could be worse: I could still be off maniacally looping through the online madness. So I am grateful for whatever pause compelled me to look away from all of the glitter and check back in with myself.
But instead of processing the stuff that felt important to me this morning, I’m processing this. Again.
The bright spot.
Things are shifting. I know it doesn’t sound like it. (At all.) But this loop was shorter. I’m aware and I’m picking up clues. So fair warning to my “Let’s Check Stuff!” pattern: Your days are numbered.
The sticky note goes back on my computer: Want to check something? Check yourself. Write first.
(And also, note to self: Remember to log out of Mail every night. Actually, re-remember.)
Thoughts or ideas? What helps you stay grounded enough to focus on the good stuff? So curious.
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Oh my. This sounds familiar. I often find myself in the pattern of:
1. I have a cool idea.
2. But let me check this one thing first.
3. Oh, that cool thing linked to this other cool thing.
4. I really love what these cool people are doing.
5. Why can’t I be doing cool things like them?
Ha! Writing that out made me have all sorts of realizations. So, I don’t think I answered your question about what helps me stay grounded. But I’m totally on board with your idea of being aware and picking up on clues. Just noticing our own behavior is a positive step.
P.S. I’m reading this cool post instead of getting out into the day and taking a run. (Picking up on clues.) So with that, I’m heading out to do the thing I originally intended to do!
Girl, just set your mail to where you have to click “Get Mail” before anything new pops up. Without that, I would be absolutely LOST! LOST!!!!
This sounds sooo familiar. I’m learning that when I get that juicy feeling I have to put down anything else I’m doing and go with it. (And vice versa–I can’t snap my fingers and call it to my heels. If only, right?)
Oh this is a good one B!
Darrah- your comment just sounded EXACTLY like me, except I continue with
6. And if I can’t be doing something cool like them, why can’t I at least know these cool people?
7. If only I were automatically cooler, I could… I would…. I’d have….
AND then I catch myself! My loop’s just a big longer, but like you & Briana- I’m learning to catch it. At least I’ve eliminated #8 which used to read, Since I now feel decidedly uncool and like a failure, I shall comfort myself with peanut butter…
As far as a tip goes- Disconnect from your wireless. That way you can still write, but that’s it. Or go to one of those old school cafes where there’s no internet and just sip and write.
an attempt at practical upending from the check-check-check void … over the last few days i’ve started playing w/ two lovely little mac apps in an attempt to help re-pattern my own version of check-check-check[mate] … Think (freeware) http://freeverse.com/mac/product/?id=7013 and Concentrate (shareware) http://getconcentrating.com/
who knew?
@Darrah & Molly – Oh, love you guys. The great thing about knowing all of those steps of the pattern is that you can try to interrupt it or switch things up at any point. Because it has to be said, you’re both doing such cool things and other people are probably thinking “Why bother, Darrah & Molly already have this coolness in the bag.”
And Molly, Yay for eliminating step 8… that was my most aggravating piece of the puzzle for so long! And disconnecting from wireless is totally helpful, I can get through a bunch of e-mail as long as my computer is offline… weird trick, but it works.
@Michelle – That is such a good point, kind of like handing the reins over to the muse when she shows up. It’s when I’m trying to create some space for her to show up, but she’s late or something, that I tend to get hooked on other stuff.
@Sarah – Done. And, bless you. Except for some reason it works for the gmail account I have mapped to Mail, but the other account just keeps right on streaming into my inbox uninvited! Hmmph, going to have to rig that somehow.
@Joyce – Too funny, I just tried Macfreedom for the first time yesterday… kind of intense! I’ll check out your suggestions, too – thanks for the ideas
I do the same thing and then forget what I was ‘ON’ to before I went and checked mail or twitter. Or I’ll google something looking for a word or something specific and that’ll lead me on a merry chase and before I know it…empty head. I have Da Dumb. Or worse, I have the “Why was I inspired before cuz I don’t feel it anymore.”
One of my writer friends spends hours setting up road blocks to her creative writing time which…takes hours away from actually writing. So it sort of defeats the purpose but she keeps checking for an ap or joining groups that offer support…again defeating the purpose.
One of the things I do lately is ask myself why I’m feeling the need to check? Is it going to help my writing or prevent me? If it’s that second thing, then I write and forget about the checking thing. I also use checking as a reward system. If I get so many words done, or a chapter, or a blog, whatever, THEN I get to check to my heart’s desire. That helps me keep it straight about what’s important and what’s not.
This dynamic is a curse for all of us who “think outside the box.” As I read your post, I found myself thinking, “yes, yes and yes.”
Focus is one of those things that is absolutely essential and incredibly hard to accomplish for creative types. The last thing we need is some electronic device knocking us completely off course.
Like Joyce, I employ several techniques and products to help keep the distractions away. One of the best tools I’ve found is Nutshell Mail (http://nutshellmail.com). I couldn’t live without it!
@Wulfie ~ The *need* is such a key thing, and something I haven’t really written about or sorted out yet, but the concept is definitely percolating in my brain. And I’m experimenting with some reward stuff in other areas, so that’s and interesting idea, too
@Kyle ~ I’m all signed up for nutshell mail, super suggestion, thank you so much. And I like thinking of this as something I need to work on because I’m a creative person who “thinks out side the box ” – shifts the perspective a bit, so thanks for that, too.