I’ve been thinking about time management a lot lately, while watching TV*, spending time online and working on my zombie novel. Apparently all this multitasking seeped into my WIP,** in the form of my subconscious, telling me to get my BIC*** and concentrate on my writing. What’s the line from my WIP?
Unfortunately, things that you want to be real are usually dreams, and things that you hope are nightmares can turn out to be real.
Yep. Even the zombies are telling me I need to concentrate on one thing and work at it to make my dreams come true (otherwise they will only remain dreams and the nightmare will be reality). Not everyone would read the sentence and think it means more BIC time, however, I know how my Muse works. It’s telling me that if I don’t do what it wants, it will abandon me to my Evil Inner Editor, and I don’t want that. Seriously. My Evil Inner Editor is a shape-shifting demon that turns into what currently scares me. He uses that form to bash my ideas and writing skills, which turns me into a puddle of jelly. Nobody wants to be around a blob of jelly with eyes, especially when it’s mint jelly. [Shudder.]
Help, I've been turned into a mint jelly blob! Again.
Is multitasking always such a bad thing? No.****
When multitasking works:
If you’re multitasking and still getting your work done and spending quality time with your family, then congratulations, whatever you’re doing is working! (How do you make it all work?)
When multitasking doesn’t work:
If you’re unable to get your work done because you’re unable to concentrate, or if the only time you spend time with your family is when you’re ignoring them because you’re doing several other things at the same time, it might be a problem.
Tips for slowing down and single-tasking:
+ Concentrate on one thing at a time.
(This could help speed things up, improve the quality of your work, or allow you to finally complete your project. You might even enjoy what you’re doing more, too.)
+ Handle things only once, if possible.
(Respond to emails after reading them, read articles, magazines or newspapers, then file them or get rid of them.)
+ Have a schedule.
(Use each scheduled time for the activity you’ve chosen, so you know you can concentrate on that one thing. You also don’t have to fit in other things because you know you’ve scheduled them for later.)
Tips for times when multitasking is necessary:
+ Use TV commercial breaks to get things done.
(Load the dishwasher, read an article, or write an email during breaks. Try to do activities that can be easily picked up again if you don’t finish before the show comes back on.)
Moo TV.
+ Use multiple updates.
(Sometimes you can update several online things at once, like Twitter and Facebook.)
+ Watch your favorite shows during meal times.
(This doesn’t work for everyone, or for all the meals you eat each day, but it can work. It allows you to keep watching your favorite shows and not feel guilty about the time spent watching them.)
+ Do something that takes brainpower at the same time as something mindless.
(For instance, listen to a book on tape while you clean the house, or have game night with the family while yo
All this is so true, Stephanie. Concentration! Yes!! This is becoming such a precious commodity.
And “remember that writing is easier than crab fishing. Illustrating is too.” Timely thought in light of the catastrophic oil spill.
Thanks for this post. The illos are adorable!
@danaFR
Okay, I know I’m not supposed to like your mint jelly blob with the eyes but it’s adorable – I want to sweep in and save it. So now, following on from our other conversation I’m wondering how you managed to make your mint jelly blob sympathetic, haha!
Balance is hard! You’re so right about making a schedule. And I’m watching way too many TV shows right now too but refuse to give any of them up (how can I walk away from Lost, Doctor Who, 24, Fringe or Spooks etc. etc?) Summer’s coming so many of these programs will be finished with soon but the sun is even harder to resist.
Whew! Multi-tasking – I am not so great at it. And, I always feel guilty when I am writing at home because there are a million other things that need to be done. Somehow, I manage – but I need to get better at it. :/
Dana, thanks! You’re right. Concentration as a precious commodity is what I’ve been feeling lately and was trying to convey. It’s hard to keep the thread of a narrative while multitasking (at least for me).
C.K. you can like the mint jelly blob if you want! I don’t know how I made it sympathetic, but I do have a habit (talent?) of making monsters look cute instead of scary. I also can’t draw werewolves (people laughed at the ones in my mini comic; they were supposed to be scary). Don’t give up your TV shows! Summer will be here soon!! When you’re out in the sun, you can think about your stories. If you have a small notebook with you, you can keep notes for rainy days.
Julia, I’m not so great at multitasking either. I actually had to stop multitasking so I could figure out what I wanted to say in this article (gotta love the irony there ). I’m with you on the guilt too. The distractions at home can zap creativity quickly! Wish I had an office outside my house!
“Somehow, I manage – but I need to get better at it. :/”
—Could you pick one thing to work on that will make you feel better and not as guilty? And reward yourself with something fun when it works? (A new book, some chocolate, a couple of guilt free hours to do whatever strikes your fancy at the time …)
Exercise that shape-shifting demon editor thingy, PRONTO! He needs to go. Send him in the other room to watch TV with the cows or something.
Stephanie: Great post! I especially like the last point: Do what you can and don’t feel guilty. Words to live by!
Nelsa
Lisa, Ha! Thanks
Will send the shape shifting demon to watch TV with the cows.
Nelsa, Thank you! Guilt is definitely the hardest thing to leave out of it, but if you can, it makes everything easier.
Multitasking is something I’m not good at. I’m working on getting better, but it’s a slow process for me.
I like your mint jelly blob and your moo tv. : )
Susanne Drazic
http://susannedrazic.blogspot.com/
Thanks Susanne! :0) Keep working on it … or don’t if you don’t want to. Multitasking is not always the best way. So if you’re not good at it, only do it when necessary.