Comments on: Friday check-in: The check-check-check-in edition.

By: Why you might want a sailboat. Or a time-management plan.

Why you might want a sailboat. Or a time-management plan. — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:09:36 +0000

[...] while I’m immersed in some kind of flailing procrastination (check-check-checking perhaps) I know that I’m not doing something else. And, even better, I know what that [...]

By: Partial decaffeination project: giving up the afternoon buzz.

Partial decaffeination project: giving up the afternoon buzz. — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:57:39 +0000

[...] my wound up nervous system, which feels kind of shot. And my sleep has been all wonky. And those frantic internet check-y-loo urges? Quite possibly [...]

By: Corporate flashbacks: More on the check-y-loos.

Corporate flashbacks: More on the check-y-loos. — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:38:29 +0000

[...] been obsessing thinking more about this check-y-loo habit. I’d love to bump creative time earlier and push checking e-mail and stuff later into the [...]

By: briana

briana — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:00:27 +0000

@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.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:10:31 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by BrianaAldrich: Friday check-in: The check-check-check-in edition. http://bit.ly/bczUAv…

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:10:12 +0000

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!

By: Wulfie

Wulfie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:16:12 +0000

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.

By: briana

briana — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:37:10 +0000

@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

By: joyce lukaczer

joyce lukaczer — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:23:53 +0000

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?

By: Molly Hoyne

Molly Hoyne — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:11:44 +0000

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.