Procrastination. It’s such a dirty word. Especially to a writer or anyone who works from home. I never thought of myself as a procrastinator but I feel like I’m turning into one. I don’t like it. I don’t like myself when I’m doing it. And I’m fully aware that I am doing it.
Working from home is a dream job to some people. Mostly, to the people who do not have the privilege and think it’s all fun and games; sleep-ins and working in your pyjamas. And it can be like that. Like now, for instance I am in my pjs. Technically, I’m not working because this blog is not part of my J-O-B but I am in my pjs. That is so because it’s 11:50pm and I’ve been ignoring this blog for weeks now so when I had a slight, ever so slight urge to write, I thought, DO IT NOW. Is this my mojo returning? I can only hope so.
Lately I’ve lost my desire to keep my eye on the prize. I get a rejection, even if I think it doesn’t bother me, it can change my entire day. And that day spills over to the next day, and the next, then the next week. And here I am on a Saturday night, staying up late to write and accomplish something…anything. Or silence plagues my inbox for days or weeks on end. It’s all part of the industry and I have learnt to be strong and carry on. I refuse to quit, that’s for damn sure.
I know I have to change my half-assed work habits. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not missing deadlines – I’m just not being the perfect employee and my boss can be a real bitch!!! (ummm, I’m my own boss for those who did not “get it”)
I have always had a very high work ethic so for me to be sloppy and inconsistent is uncharacteristic and damn annoying to me. Many of you will know and use these favourite ways of putting off but it might be insightful to list them…just for fun.
- Coffee
- Food – mostly chocolate
- TV – I rarely watch actual TV but I do have an addiction to Sex and the City (I have all on DVD)
- More coffee
- Emails
- Laundry
- Dishes or other housework
- Designing new business cards (this is not a high priority for me now)
- List making
- Googling
- Lorna Jane website – browsing
- More Food
A few times in the past couple weeks, I have banned myself from Facebook. It has helped but only on the days where I was fully committed to working. And I know I must do this more often, like everyday between 9 – 3pm. I wonder if this is even possible? I do miss it when I’m on a ban. And that scares the hell outta me. I don’t want to be that person. That person who cannot go a day without being “connected”.
Sure, I need the internet to work from home but when it’s keeping me from doing the best job I can do, it has to be turned off.
It’s now 12:33am and I rarely stay up this late. I am now logging off for sleep. And tomorrow I promise to not turn on my modem (please note that I do have an iPhone that I can check emails on) before 3pm. It is Sunday after all…
What is your most perfect procrastinating tool?
Kai Chronicles 