Angry Birds (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Before you start thinking that this title means something deep or is a description of my character in World of Warcraft (do they still play that? I don’t.) it isn’t. This title is the truth. I am sure this topic has been covered and you are most likely to click off of this post and leave the Coots site right now. But hold on a second, you need to be logged in for a few more seconds for it to count. Really Hang on. Just a bit longer.
Have you ever noticed those videos over in the sidebar? How about clicking on our personal blog sites? maybe Facebook? Click that link and head to Amazon.com and get yourself something nice and we can make a couple of pennies. Ok are you good? See what I did, I just took something normal and easy and managed to waste a bunch of time doing it.
You know, I am fairly good at it as well. If I actually spent half the time writing as I do screwing around I would be able to say I write for hours and hours every day. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have that luxury.
I can spend time doing crap that doesn’t mean anything and why? Am I afraid of the actual writing? No. I usually justify it by saying if I start to write something I will just get interrupted and my wife will need something so I may as well not bother. Before you know it Netflix and Angry Birds are calling you from that seductive corner of your computer.
I try to leave the computer completely but then my kindle beckons with that book I am having a hard time putting down….Damn, I should have washed some underwear instead. I need more sleep. Now the discussion needs to shift towards what needs to be done about it? I think I have proven that the “Just Write” argument is out the window…gotta kill some pigs.
Cerebral Cortex location (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There is just a niggling in the back of my cerebral cortex that says I can’t do this same old same old anymore. We are heading to Florida in June and I thought this morning, “Well I guess I will just neglect the blogs some more” while I am gone. and then, “No! I can pre write some posts!” and then, “Yea right, I can’t write the regular ones.” That in turn inspired this post.
So I am going to reward myself when I write something by being able to shut off that damn Adele song for more than 10 minutes. The wife got a hold of that song and the kids play it and she plays it and the radio plays it and it never seems to get out of the *explicitve deleted* repeat loop!
But I digress….how do you fellow monkeys fight the urges that keep is from doing actual work? How do you more efficiently waste time so that you can still work? Inquiring minds want to know….and if you remember that you are as old as me….
-Justin
PS. The podcast is going to be revived on this blog very soon. If anyone has an idea about something you want to hear about or want to be a guest, let me know.
I am thinking of using a new format and maybe a “What can the Coots be Cantankerous about” much like the “What can’t Adam Complain about” segment on the Adam Carolla Podcast.
Give me some topics…and vote for Ralph in the CNS leader poll already. His fragile ego can’t handle one lonely vote. And I don’t want to write the CNS any more than I have too.
Justin,
I think you are getting it. I,too, find myself wasting time when I should be working. I could beat myself up about it and mope in the corner or sit down at the computer and start complaining about all the forces aligned against me. Before you know it, I’ve got a rant and usually I have to read it to discover what I’m ranting about.
I think wasting time is just another facet of being a human being. Those folks who get so much done belong to another species (or are pathological liars).
It seems to me that there is only so much product in my brain and if I’m not smart enough to know it, something in me demands to play Words with Friends or lie down so my brain can get creative.
I think you may also be indulging yourself after defining yourself as a writer. Once you do that, you up the standards you hold for yourself. I know that I’m not a writer and if I ever delude myself, there is Doolin to set me straight. I therefore don’t expect my writing output to be cogent, organized, elegant, clear or any of the things writers like to think about themselves. It’s just words. Somehow, most of the times I sit down at the keyboard and start the timer, words come out. Viola, I’ve got a post. If its at least 400, I’ve done my work.
Also I have never heard Adele and I pray that God will protect me in the future.
I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye