7 Writing Distractions I’m Kissing Goodbye
I have to admit–I’m hopeless at writing when I’m distracted.
There are several things that have recently contributed to wasting a good portion of my allotted writing time, and these are things I want to learn to avoid.
I’m not saying the following list of programs and habits should be completely shunned; they’re all very useful and necessary. Still, I’ve decided to make a concerted effort to break free of these distractions during my writing time.
From now on, I’m kissing these 7 distractions goodbye:
- Checking Email. I tend to check it not once, but every five minutes-or-so during my writing. Checking my email always leads to further distractions like replying to urgent (and not-so-urgent) messages.
- Moderating/Replying to comments. This is one of the evils of checking email every few minutes. As soon as I see there are comments queued to be moderated, I feel the need to log into WordPress. I must then reply to comments so my readers don’t feel unloved.
- Tweetdeck. Every time I hear that little tweet and see a pop-up on my screen, it takes my mind off writing. I don’t need to read tweets in real time. I can catch up on them later. I can retweet later. I can check out my new followers later.
- Google Reader. My feedreader is one of the best tools I have for keeping up-to-date on what’s being discussed in the blogosphere. As much as it’s necessary, I often can’t help logging in to see if my favourite blogs have new posts up. Then, of course, I want to read them.
- Feedburner/Blog Stats. I don’t really need to know what’s going on with my subscribers or traffic, not every day and not during my writing time. There’s really no excuse for this one. Yet, I still do it.
- Image browsing. Looking for new blog photos can be productive, but I tend to get distracted by them too easily. Give me a thousand pages of free images to look through, and I’m totally gone.
- Facebook. As much as I adore my friends and my fan page, they can wait until later in the day. There’s nothing urgent about seeing the latest status updates or checking out friends’ photos.
I’ve already started to beat some of these distractions, but others are harder to let go of. I have to keep reminding myself they’ll still be there when my scheduled writing time is done.
There’s a program called MacFreedom, which allows you to disable your internet access for up to 8 hours at a time. It’s available for free download here. Who knows, it might be just the thing to help me get my 2 full hours of uninterrupted writing time each day.
What things distract you from writing? Have you tried to give them up, and were you successful? What strategies have you found for writing without distractions?
Images courtesy of pedosimoes7
Suzannah Windsor Freeman writes and teaches in Canada and Australia (but never at the same time). Pop over to Write It Sideways for more great writing tips, or follow her on Twitter.
I, too, suffer from such distractions. Checking Twitter has become my biggest distraction above all else. Each time I succeed in a particular moment with my writing, I’m compelled to share with my followers. If I make a new discovery about a character, I’m compelled to share with my followers. Must learn to write everything out and save any commentary thoughts for later. >.<
That’s a good idea–save up all those important tweets for a time when you’re not writing. Twitter is awesome, but it CAN be a huge distraction ;)
I’m SO glad you posted this! I’ve been struggling with the exact same distractions, and I’ve been debating with myself whether or not I should give them up (at least until the writing part of my day is over). All too often, I start my day checking Twitter, FB, Google Reader, blog comments, etc. only to find that three hours have passed, and I haven’t gotten any productive work done. I’m joining you! I’m making every effort to make this week the week I give up random internet distractions — and focus on my writing first and foremost!
Glad this came at such a needful time, Heather :) Best of luck with trying to eschew these distractions!
Does anyone know of a PC version of MacFreedom for those of us still in the Dark Ages? :)
No, but you could always disconnect the Ethernet cable or deactivate your wireless network.
:)
I would do that…if my husband didn’t work from home as well! I’m thinking about just forgoing technology as a whole…head back to the simpler times of a horse and buggy and writing by lantern and quill pen :)
Michelle,
My husband does a lot of work from home, too. I feel your pain! Quill pen sounds good :)
That’s interesting. I have the same distractions, but after I started using Concentrate for Mac, things have changed :)
Just checked out Concentrate. Looks cool! Must try it–thanks.
Always a pleasure to read your work, Suzannah — nice post!
I think the best way for me to avoid distraction is a combination of leaving the apartment as much as possible, therby disconnecting from all distractions other than those from the world itself, and self control — the latter more necessary than even due to the technology available … good thing the iPhone offers airplane mode.
Thanks, Christopher! Wish I could leave the house more often, too. However, having a 3-month-old baby makes it more difficult to get out :) One day, when he’s in school like his big brother, I’ll get some quiet time again!
I just started using a Firefox plugin called LeechBlock and it has already helped curb my email, Facebook & Twitter checking.
I’ll have to check it out, Mary. Thanks foe the recommendation!
I run off to the garden shed, the wireless shouldn’t cover the garden. Failing that, the playground with a paper pad or laptop
Garden shed?? Now there’s a good idea! ;)
I think I have been distracted by all those things in the past five minutes. I am doing several of them right now. I banned myself from the internet yesterday. I lasted about an hour. I managed to get a lot done in that hour though.
I only got broadband recently – and now it is so distracting. I ration myself to a peek at Twitter once an hour. Otherwise I keep Internet Explorer turned off. Same with emails – I keep the program turned off so I don’t get that enticing little envelope appearing and saying ‘open me!’
You only got broadband recently??? My goodness, when our internet is down for a couple of hours, I feel completely lost! I know that’s a terrible way to be, but it’s true. Have you been on dial-up, or completely without internet access at all?
Hey Suzy;
As usual, a great post. I enjoy reading your work. Please keep up the good work. Cheers!
Plus, I think you have a photogenic personality: what a lovely smile. It is warm, friendly.
My problem is: the pace of technology. It moves too fast. I only have just discovered email, google and the whiz-kids have something new on display. And it’s available in the market too. And the early adopters already are using it or have it on their blogs and websites.
It seems we spend too much time these days relying on technology rather than reading the classics, spending more time with our near and dear ones, engaging with the outdoors, working out, etc. Yeah, sure, I hear you–call me old-fashioned, but there you have it.
Also, there is so much out there on the internet that many people now suffer from “information overload.” And maybe this is just me, but it almost seems like not even two minutes can go by without being interrupted by your PC (”you’ve got mail”), blackberry message, ipod, or that buzzing sensation in your pocket courtesy your mobile phone.
I guess that’s the price we pay for progress, after all: too many distractions.
I long for the day when I can just go for a casual stroll in the outdoors–yes, alone–without any technological devices. Or curl up in bed with a nice book by Baudelaire or Dumas–something older or even ancient. Or, just meet somebody over a cup of coffee and sit on a park bench together and have a longish conversation. Or, bump into a perfect stranger, a little old lady, and help her cross the street or carry her bags and help her to reach home.
Thank you for your kind words, Archan!
I don’t think you’re old-fashioned–we SHOULD spend more time reading the classics and hanging out with our families, Absolutely. I totally agree we all suffer from information overload. However, that’s the way the world is going, and we have to decide whether or not we wish to keep up. If it weren’t for my determination to break into the writing industry, I’d probably be eschewing all things technology. Thanks!
I turn my email off. I no longer have it set to open at login. That way, I can work peacefully on my blog post or writing copy or whatever I need to do first. I get a lot more done!
We all seemt o have the same observations/complaints here.
It sounds like all this technology that was supposed to “make life better” has become more of a hindrance to our productivity than anything.
I too suffer the same struggles with email and such (not a Facebooker, just started Tweeting and am not hooked or impressed yet). Television is by far my biggest distraction.
Sometimes it is better to just unplug. We are an analog species, afterall.
The only thing I can stop doing is logging in to Facebook. Other than that, I can’t stop myself from checking stats, emails and moderating comments. With 24 hours a day, I think I only sleep like 6 hours and the rest will be spent on working, blogging and just having fun surfing the internet looking out for interesting sites or images. I am also addicted to Stumble Upon.