When I write, I really need some blinders to wear so that I’m not so easily distracted. I need a block on the internet…mainly for Facebook and email…and my phone should definitely be turned off. It is almost impossible for me to disconnect from the world. I’ve thought about buying one of those lockboxes that you put your cell phone in and then set the timer for the amount of time that you need to be away from the phone. Once you set the timer, there is no way to open it. You have to wait until the timer goes off. But, if I did get one, I’d probably sit there for hours trying to figure out a way to beat it because that’s how my mind works. I do not like being bested by any kind of electronics. And I am too stubborn for my own good. So, no on the lockbox. I could give it to my husband but, uh, no. He abhors cell phones so it would probably disappear forever. So, I guess that I’m stuck with self-control. If you could see me now, you’d know that I’m laughing. I have a weight problem and I’m a notorious impulse spender…mostly on electronics and books. So self-control is pretty much off the table. ADHD also plays a role in this issue of mine. It makes staying on task so difficult even under the best of circumstances. When I’m working, I listen to audiobooks so that I can concentrate. The book keeps my right brain occupied so that my left brain can work. This actually works very well…at work. But if I’m trying to write, I don’t think that would work at all because both are right brain activities. I’m getting pretty damned tired of going back to square 1 here. Maybe if someone locked me in an empty white room with no windows, no visual or audio stimuli, no internet connectivity for the laptop that has been wiped clean leaving only Word and my novel on it, I could write without distraction. Maybe. I know I’m not the only one that goes through this when sitting down to write. So, what do we do about it? There are obviously no quick easy fixes or we would be turning out books like James Patterson. I’ve often wondered if meditation was the answer but the times I’ve tried it, I could not get my mind to be still. I am not going to give up. I have given up on far too many things in my lifetime and this will not be the next one. I have people backing me up and cheering me on so I will not let them down. Nor will I let me down. I want this so badly that I can taste it. Perhaps it’s because I am surrounded by so many amazingly talented writers and creatives that I feel so energized creatively. Or maybe it’s because of my new ametrine ring that is supposed to enhance creativity…you never know. It’s actually a combination of so many things. How can I allow myself to let all of this go to waste? I can’t and that’s the motivation that I need to succeed!
“Say no to distractions so you can say yes to your destiny.” ~ Thema Davis
Inspired Writer 