This coming weekend is a bank holiday in England and Wales. I’ve taken time off from my full-time job today and tomorrow, with the sole purpose of getting some serious writing done over the break.
I have about six projects on the go at the moment, all at various stages of completion. Some have barely been started, with notes strewn about all over the place, so it’s not like I’m struggling to find things to do.
I woke around 7am this morning, and between then and the six hours until lunch, I have
- cleaned my car (it was absolutely filthy, it has to be said);
- been to the shop for breakfast materials (no milk in fridge);
- made and eaten said breakfast;
- tidied up the kitchen;
- cleaned the inside of the dishwasher (OK, I just inserted some device into the machine and set it on the highest programme, but still…);
- had a bubble bath (by this time, I needed it);
- put a load of laundry into the washing machine;
- painted my nails.
In short, I have procrastinated.
Courtesy of TheFreeDictionary.com
Now I have covered this topic here before, but this is not an affliction which resolves itself overnight. One has to work hard to overcome this particular bane.
Friends on Facebook have provided a selection of responses. Writers in particular though, seem to be bothered by this condition more than most, and have responded more than everyone else too.
“Amateur! Come back when your hair’s in cornrows,” said one friend. She’s a talented screenwriter (and Master Procrastinator, clearly).
But the procrastination sufferer does not need this kind of idea placing into their head. I am now seriously considering taking a couple of hours out to plait my hair, having surfed the web to discover that cornrows are far too difficult to do on my own. That killed another half an hour, mind you.
I need to know that I’m not alone here. I want to hear your procrastination techniques, large and small. Nothing is too crazy here. Feel free to spill all. I’m a nice, kind person and you’re guaranteed a virtual hug at the end.
In the meantime, I’m off to bake some muffins, or something…
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