Friday, February 18, 2011

The Art of Procrastination

So, yesterday. . .I did nothing. Nada. Zippo. Really, I'm not lying. I sat on my comfy couch with my decaf coffee and read. . .ALL DAY. And boy, do I feel guilty about it.
  
Not because dust bunnies are still hiding in hard to reach places. Not because the dishes didn't get done, the floor swept, the front steps shoveled or the book cases dusted. My guilt hangover comes from the fact that I didn't write. Not one word. And I had the house all to myself.


How crazy is that?


I had six hours of nothing. . .of peace and quiet (no kids running around, no dog howling...yes, mine likes to "sing" in our backyard) and yet, I zoned out. But man--despite the guilt this morning--it felt so freaking good. No pressure to get that word count in, my blog written or tackle anything on my endless to-do list.


So, I started thinking. Is down time (or what we like to call procrastination) always a bad thing? We like to think of it as the evil of all evils. But hang on a minute. . .is it really?


My answer to that question is no. Sometimes I need to take a break, to slow down, to not push so damn hard. I don't do it often or for very long, but I need it. To shut off my brain for just a little while and disappear into the ether. To let someone else's story take me away, out of my own. It has nothing to do with avoiding my work. . .honest, it doesn't. What it is about, however, is giving my battery pack time to recharge. About coming back refreshed and excited.


So, tell me.  Do you let yourself take a break every once in while?  Because, when you think about it. . .procrastination becomes an ART FORM when used to shovel more fuel into your engine, helping you come back stronger.

30 comments:

  1. Haha good post. I think that down time can be a good thing if it makes me want to write again at some point.

    If it makes me avoid my writing, it's a problem.

    :-)

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  2. Yup, avoidance is definitely a problem. That's why I'm back in the saddle this morning. . .even though I really want to grab that book! It'll be my treat for this evening, for a job well done.

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  3. I definitely think we need to recharge, especially by reading (even though I forget that sometimes). I'm trying to learn how to be productive about my procrastination though. LOL I need to have planned breaks or days off, because if I just avoid, I *do* feel guilty. And I don't like to feel guilty!

    Donna

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  4. I take a break from writing once per week. I get to pick the day that makes sense to me in the moment. This week it was Wed. I slept in, went to work etc. No writing. Thursday morning I woke up with a ton of new ideas for my WIP and my next project. I find when I don't do this I end up shutting down and sitting in front of the keyboard with my fingers hovering above the keys and an empty brain.

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  5. It's good to recognize when you need a recharge. I can always tell the days that I forced something. Besides, reading is never procrastination! The best authors are the best readers in my estimation!

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  6. If we don't have "down time" we'd have no notion of how productive we are during our "up time."

    Besides, in my opinion, you have to be a near obsessive reader to be a writer. :)

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  7. Everyone must have a reading day now and then. I try to make mine once a week. You deserved to enjoy your day, and all writers must read!

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  8. I believe (firmly) that sometimes, one needs to procrastinate. IT's all part of that staying sane thing :D So right now I'm gonna eat lunch & watch some Supernatural, instead of editing. woo! hehe

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  9. Yeah, I take a break when I'm done with a WiP, although sometimes a bit in between...

    Hiya, buddy crusader! I'm making the rounds today and checking out your blog. Nice to meet you, and Happy Friday! :)

    Artzicarol Ramblings

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  10. Yeah, but my down time is a month long now. : ( I'm working on it between blogging and the crusade. I'm following you now. ; )

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  11. I take a small break in between my WIPs. When I'm editing one, and writing a new one. Not a long break though. I have to be writing something! LOL Nice to meet you. I'm a new follower from the crusade. :)

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  12. Sometimes you just need a break to refill the idea bank!

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  13. Taking a break is hard for me sometimes because I always have so much going on- but I do think it is needed every once in a while. Have a fairy lovely weekend!

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  14. Haha! I like to think that I'm 'refining' my technique. Yes, I agree, we do need to get away for awhile (why else do we put that MS away for awhile before we start editign?) but I can take that procrastination to new, lofty heights. Like my yoga, I have to work to find the balance!

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  15. Good to meet you, crusader. Downtime is definitely good, and much needed. Life these days is so full of pressures that occasionally allowing yourself a few hours of zero pressure is good for the health :-)

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  16. Unfortunately, I'm having way too many days like the one you had. :) Nice post!

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  17. Once in awhile, yes, I like to shut down and do NOTHING! But we ran errands all day yesterday and then came home and watched two movies. I do like to veg out but I didn't get anything accomplished yesterday and today I have to get caught up! So I am stopping by all my fellow crusaders to say Hello!

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  18. Oh yes, taking a break is a necessity for me. I'm the type of person that goes all at it 24/7, so sometimes it's nice to just shutdown and take a break. Read someone ELSE'S writing. Watch something on television or just zone out. It not only helps you to relax so that you can feel more natural and focused when you get back to work, but it also helps you to be more objective.

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  19. Why do I always feel like I'm on a break?

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  20. All this blogging stuff has left my mind a mess. My voices are so quiet I can't write anymore. I wish I could blame it on procrastination. Fellow crusader following you.

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  21. Good for you for taking a break. With writing, blogging, critiquing and working 50 plus hours a week, my brain gets fried. We all need a break sometimes.

    Great post and great point! Fellow cursader (I'm not even going to fix that - today I AM a cursader..)and fellow group member.

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  22. Hi there - I am a brand new follower to your blog! I started my own blog on 7 Feb, just four days after you started yours! I only have two followers though, so I'm very jealous of your 96!!

    I have always made myself feel guilty when I have my "lazy time" as I like to call it. But I find that it helps me to reflect on what has been happening over the last few days and what it all means to me. If I'm busy all day every day I get too overwhelmed to go on, and every little thought seems just too big to process.

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  23. Hey, I'm your 100th follower!!! I am a crusader and top at procrastination too. Maybe see you there? :)

    Jean's scribble, join the crusade!!

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  24. I have a hard time letting myself take breaks, but I agree, they are essential for well-being. Nice post!

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  25. I'm with Tanya: I always feel like I'm pulling myself out of the inertia of break time.

    I would like to point out, however, that reading is an essential part of your work as a writer. (I would add staring into space as part of your work as a writer, but maybe that's just me....) So, here's patting you on the back for a job well done!

    (p.s. go go go Crusader group 17!)

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  26. I already posted on this, but I wanted to stop by again. I'm in your crusade group and I wanted to do a feature on each of my group members on the Friday's that don't include a Crusader challenge.

    Let me know if you're interested, and I'll send some questions your way and let you know when I'll do the feature. You can send me an email at timesaved(at)gmail(dot)com

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  27. Procrastination is a little appreciated art! And the only problem as far as I can see is the guilt you've been feeling. Not healthy, definitely not healthy...

    Seriously though, I think down time is essential, and there's a big difference between that and conscious, ongoing, longer-term avoidance of something or other, which definitely qualifies as procrastination.

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  28. Hey fellow crusader!
    I can completely relate. I'm in the throes of editing my first draft, and though I've had gobs of time to do it, I'm not.

    I think its a fine line to walk between making yourself work, and wanting to do the work. Generally, when it comes to me, I've noticed that when I make myself write I tend to tell more. However, if I just waited around for inspiration to strike, I'd probably have nothing to show.

    Sometimes, its good to take a break. And if you're spending the day reading, that's like homework, right? :)

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  29. It's absolutely essential to take a break... it definitely helps you to recharge and come back to your MS with a fresh frame of mind :)

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  30. AGREED! Down time is a must - you need it to rejuvenate, refresh, get re-excited about things.

    New follower and fellow crusader! Nice to meet you!

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