Spotted this cartoon today in my travels and it stopped me in my tracks. So much so I had to write about it!
Not that I was doing any of those things, of course. No, I was actually ‘researching’ on the web. Every good writer needs to research – fact-checking, thoroughness of topic coverage, clarifying thoughts, finding other angles. For example, in my research mode, I came across this cartoon and that inspired this post on procrastination. Serendipity? Or, procrastination? Maybe even productive procrastination ™?
How did this happen? I am producing a short piece but am totally uninspired by the title on which I have to write. To get into free-flow mode I decided to research how to write a story using a formula. Maybe that would give me a hook to hang the piece on. I’ve been researching for at least two hours!
Totally inspired. Not to write the piece but to find out more about these formulas and how some writers write so many books in such a short time. Starstruck.
But it hasn’t helped me write that original piece. In the process, I’ve ‘lost’ time even if I have gained knowledge and content for future posts.
Procrastination and I are old friends. We’ve been hanging out together for æons.
My advice is if you’re going to procrastinate, use your time well.
If you are going to nap, set an alarm so you’re up at a certain time ready to go.
If you’re going to snack, take a short break and make it a healthy snack so your body digests it well and doesn’t give you grief.
If you’re going to social media, set a time limit and have a purpose rather than zoning out and getting caught up in tangents – SocMed often makes you feel FOMO (not a good headspace for writing).
If you’re going to do chores then make it a time-limited quick one: if you decide to tidy your office just focus on your desktop or a drawer – don’t decide to change the whole room around.
You can find other things you NEED to do right now instead of write – phone a friend, research, get the mail, sharpen your pencils, whatever. Simply recognise you are putting off the inevitable and your brain needs a quick recharge before getting back into it.
- set a time limit
- make sure your chosen activity will put you in a better frame of mind
- commit to getting back onto your writing after your interlude
Imagine a firefighter deciding to procrastinate. Not going to happen. She has to deal with the real and present event. So do you.
Get a handle on procrastination, if it’s an habitual ‘out’ for you, by using the 3-step plan above.
Discipline is part of a writer’s armory.
[Cartoon credit totally goes to Ellis Rosen. Go check him out. He’s worth procrastinating for.]