I’ll Do It in a Minute. Or Five.

DISTRACTIONS: SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND THEM

Ok, so you know what you need to do and you know what will happen if you don’t get it done… so why are you chatting to your mate on the phone or making your tenth cuppa for the day when it’s only five past nine? (Note for you non-aussies: cuppa means a cup of something – usually tea or coffee). Here’s the scenario: you have a project to finish (or start) but there are a million other things to do first. Even if there aren’t other things to do you will make them up, right?

Real or made up they are what’s known in the trade as ‘distractions’. I am a leading expert in the field of distractions. You see, I am addicted to online social networking. Twitter, in particular. I just read tweets and occasionally post my own while time drifts on by. Tweet, tweet. From a writer’s perspective it’s a great way to practice succinct writing but, frankly, it’s the ultimate time-waster. Don’t get me wrong. Twitter is a great way of connecting with people in a raw, snapshot kind of way and I love connecting and communicating with people from all over the world. That’s cool. Plus you can stalk celebrities (hee-hee). The problem is, I tend to tweet when I have something else I should be doing. And that’s bad.

I THINK, THEREFORE I PLAN

When I’m being good, here’s what I do: I think about what I need to do in the day, then I plan how and when I will do it. It’s all about mind control. Not the ‘take me to your leader’ kind of control but the ‘think before you act’ kind. Planning gives you motivation. It gives you a vision. When you don’t plan your day, you just have this vague picture of what you need to do and it all seems too hard or too out of reach so nothing gets done efficiently or effectively. When you plan your day, then you are more inclined to follow through on those plans and actually get something done then afterwards you have a sense of accomplishment and you reward yourself and you feel pretty damn good. Being good takes effort, but it rocks.

ARGH, THERE’S A WHOPPING BIG ROCK IN MY WAY!

If after you’ve sat there and planned your little heart out but you still want to go off and paint your toenails, then it’s time to look deep into your soul. U-huh. It’s that serious. Sorry, folks. Chances are there’s a rock you need to haul away. Ask yourself honestly: why am I not doing this? HONESTLY. There will be a reason and you will need to look that reason in the eye and have a heart-to-heart with it. Maybe it’s because you think you can’t do it. Perhaps you have forgotten how to spell ‘ultracrepidarianism’ and you don’t have a dictionary. Or maybe you only got two hours sleep the night before because you were on Skype with your friend from Heidelberg. Whatever the reason, face it and find the best way to move past it.

DO IT NOW!!!!

It’s all fine and dandy to have someone chuck something at you and scream ‘Get this done by five!’, but if you don’t have something driving you to action, then you will either do a crap job of it, or it will bring you no satisfaction and leave you wondering what you are doing with your life. Or both. That something can be anything from paying the bills and feeding the family, to fulfilling a dream or personal growth. Whatever is it, be wary of that voice within that tells you it must be perfect. If you’re comparing yourself to experts and mentors in your field or doubting your abilities to succeed purely from your own or someone else’s expectations, then it’s time to put things into perspective. Recognise your achievements and abilities. Bear in mind that every step is a step forward. Go easy on yourself and remember to enjoy the process of completing your project because that’s what’s going to make it work more than anything.

YEAH SURE. WHATEVER (SIGH)…

If none of that helps then just give up and go check out the latest tweets on Twitter.

Huh, you say? Stay with me here. Time-wasting could well be a good way to gather your thoughts. I’m not saying it’s not an excuse to go off and Twitter away into the sunset. Honest. I’m just saying that maybe social networking, playing solitaire on your computer, going for a walk, chatting on the phone, painting your nails… maybe all those things can be beneficial. Let’s call them ‘Intentional Distractions’. I can hear you thinking ‘but shouldn’t we do something healthier like meditate?’ I hear you, it’s just that sometimes it’s an effort to light the candles and lie down. Sometimes we want to tune out, not tune in.

What I’m getting at is that as long as we know when enough is enough, Intentional Distractions might just be good for us. If you’re worried you will never ever find the strength to tackle that project ever again then set a time limit. An alarm perhaps? Then go off and play Solitaire, update your Facebook profile, see what everyone’s up to in Twitterspace, even venture out in to the real world for a sec. Apparently fresh air is good for you. Then, in the same way you rise from meditation, tune back into reality, ready, willing and able to tackle that project headlong with passionate conviction. Go you! Hey, it’s a win-win situation.

It’s just a thought…

P.S. Check out this hilarious video about Twitter: trouble with twitter

(I’m not addicted. Honest…)