There are many times where I wish I could be the stereotypical reclusive artist who lives in the woods and just sits and reads and draws and writes all day long, haha. I'm sure it'd get boring (and lonely) after a while though. But two weeks... yesssss.
SAME. Two weeks I could do. Any longer than that and I'm sure I'd start trying to have long meaningful conversations with the ants.
I know one thing for me is that the fact that I do not get anything close to two weeks to really go deep on a project does make me start to -- resent everyone? Maybe that's too strong. A light resentment. A smattering of resentful feelings about all the interruptions and how everything I'm working on would be a work of absolute mindblowing genius if I only had a few uninterrupted days in a cabin.
100% this! It’s the distinction between distraction and noise for me. Some distractions are good! The things you CHOOSE to engage in, like you point out. Books, a movie, that podcast you’re digging, dinner with a friend, a stroll in the woods, holiday business, etc. But a lot of social media is just noise. Its an endless distraction, a constant stream of noise, designed to keep us so hooked that we literally can’t think about or do anything else but consume that content.
And to your point, being alone with our own thoughts is good. Necessary even, for creativity.
Anyway, I’m rambling now. Thanks again for another great post!
YES to the noise. And I think we have this notion sometimes (perpetuated by tech giants? asked Julie conspiratorially) that all distractions are the same, that they're all in this one big swirling bucket, and it's up to us to have the willpower to avoid the bucket. But there is a huge difference between me choosing to watch a movie that makes me laugh or read a book that interests me, and me going on Twitter and feeling like a bunch of strangers are throwing knives in my direction.
Okay, I love all these videos, but this one was especially fun. I felt like I was laughing with a good friend. Anyhow, CHRISTMAS TREE! We still haven't gotten ours! (Note to self, that.)
Yes on distractions. It's funny that you mentioned podcasts, because I haven't listened to one in a very long time and...I don't miss them? I mean, I'm a social media nut, so it's not like I'm someone to emulate AT ALL on keeping distractions in check, but I do think it's kind of like you can either be into podcasts and do work, or you can be into social media and do work...but I don't know if I know anyone who does both podcasts AND social media and is happy with their work output. That's...a lot. AND, definitely, cutting back on both WOULD be the way to stay work-sane! It's like you say, in either case, it's responsive--not creative per se.
Also, I love so much that you worked both "supper" and "pinochle" somehow into your talk -- those are both two woefully underused words! I've always thought pinochle sounds like a condiment, or maybe a side. "Yes, please. The turkey--on sourdough. Is the pinochle house-made?"
I have not read nearly enough Shirley Jackson, though what I have read, hoo-boy, did it stay with me! I will have to add her letters to my TBR pile!
I'll end with a butchered Godfather quote <helps if you picture me as Luca Brasi>, "And I hope that your next distraction...will be a worthwhile distraction."
Well, by not being badgered by your children into getting a Christmas tree in November, you saved yourself the time that I've spent watering it every day. That's like, why it's got to be four, four and a half minutes now, that you had to do work, and I didn't.
I have been the podcasts and social media person, and my work output was barely anything. It was bad. I go through phases with podcasts for sure. But I do love them.
I am a little bit obsessed with pinochle even though I've never played it. It's just such a hilarious word. They let me put it in the second Snappsy book, in this quick throwaway moment.
I love Shirley Jackson. I'll admit a huge part of it is that she also had four kids, two boys and two girls. But she was funny and such an amazing writer, and she always knew it. She wrote the weird stuff in her heart. Read her books before her letters! And absolutely put Life Among the Savages on your list. It's so funny. I haven't read everything she wrote, but I love everything of hers that I've read.
"Tell me, what will you do with your 4.5 wild and precious minutes?" Though, to be fair, how many times have I begged for exactly that? ("Mama just needs a couple of minutes! Please! Please, for all that is holy! Pleeeeeasssseeee.")
I love that we faced the same fork (social media vs. podcasts) and took two different roads to arrive at the same conclusion: doing both is too much! LOL! I bet it has to do something with our learning style. Are you more of an auditory learner? I wish I was, but I think I need to "see" something, even when I hear it, for it to stick at all.
That's right about Snappsy and pinochle! How could I forget? It's what best friends do, along with braiding hair, etc. :)
Definitely adding Shirley (Ms. Jackson, if I'm nasty) to my TBR pile. :)
There are many times where I wish I could be the stereotypical reclusive artist who lives in the woods and just sits and reads and draws and writes all day long, haha. I'm sure it'd get boring (and lonely) after a while though. But two weeks... yesssss.
SAME. Two weeks I could do. Any longer than that and I'm sure I'd start trying to have long meaningful conversations with the ants.
I know one thing for me is that the fact that I do not get anything close to two weeks to really go deep on a project does make me start to -- resent everyone? Maybe that's too strong. A light resentment. A smattering of resentful feelings about all the interruptions and how everything I'm working on would be a work of absolute mindblowing genius if I only had a few uninterrupted days in a cabin.
The distractions. The podcasts. I feel like you have been inside my head. Thanks for this.
I am both sorry for having been in your head and also very happy that I'm not the only one.
100% this! It’s the distinction between distraction and noise for me. Some distractions are good! The things you CHOOSE to engage in, like you point out. Books, a movie, that podcast you’re digging, dinner with a friend, a stroll in the woods, holiday business, etc. But a lot of social media is just noise. Its an endless distraction, a constant stream of noise, designed to keep us so hooked that we literally can’t think about or do anything else but consume that content.
And to your point, being alone with our own thoughts is good. Necessary even, for creativity.
Anyway, I’m rambling now. Thanks again for another great post!
YES to the noise. And I think we have this notion sometimes (perpetuated by tech giants? asked Julie conspiratorially) that all distractions are the same, that they're all in this one big swirling bucket, and it's up to us to have the willpower to avoid the bucket. But there is a huge difference between me choosing to watch a movie that makes me laugh or read a book that interests me, and me going on Twitter and feeling like a bunch of strangers are throwing knives in my direction.
Okay, I love all these videos, but this one was especially fun. I felt like I was laughing with a good friend. Anyhow, CHRISTMAS TREE! We still haven't gotten ours! (Note to self, that.)
Yes on distractions. It's funny that you mentioned podcasts, because I haven't listened to one in a very long time and...I don't miss them? I mean, I'm a social media nut, so it's not like I'm someone to emulate AT ALL on keeping distractions in check, but I do think it's kind of like you can either be into podcasts and do work, or you can be into social media and do work...but I don't know if I know anyone who does both podcasts AND social media and is happy with their work output. That's...a lot. AND, definitely, cutting back on both WOULD be the way to stay work-sane! It's like you say, in either case, it's responsive--not creative per se.
Also, I love so much that you worked both "supper" and "pinochle" somehow into your talk -- those are both two woefully underused words! I've always thought pinochle sounds like a condiment, or maybe a side. "Yes, please. The turkey--on sourdough. Is the pinochle house-made?"
I have not read nearly enough Shirley Jackson, though what I have read, hoo-boy, did it stay with me! I will have to add her letters to my TBR pile!
I'll end with a butchered Godfather quote <helps if you picture me as Luca Brasi>, "And I hope that your next distraction...will be a worthwhile distraction."
Well, by not being badgered by your children into getting a Christmas tree in November, you saved yourself the time that I've spent watering it every day. That's like, why it's got to be four, four and a half minutes now, that you had to do work, and I didn't.
I have been the podcasts and social media person, and my work output was barely anything. It was bad. I go through phases with podcasts for sure. But I do love them.
I am a little bit obsessed with pinochle even though I've never played it. It's just such a hilarious word. They let me put it in the second Snappsy book, in this quick throwaway moment.
I love Shirley Jackson. I'll admit a huge part of it is that she also had four kids, two boys and two girls. But she was funny and such an amazing writer, and she always knew it. She wrote the weird stuff in her heart. Read her books before her letters! And absolutely put Life Among the Savages on your list. It's so funny. I haven't read everything she wrote, but I love everything of hers that I've read.
"Tell me, what will you do with your 4.5 wild and precious minutes?" Though, to be fair, how many times have I begged for exactly that? ("Mama just needs a couple of minutes! Please! Please, for all that is holy! Pleeeeeasssseeee.")
I love that we faced the same fork (social media vs. podcasts) and took two different roads to arrive at the same conclusion: doing both is too much! LOL! I bet it has to do something with our learning style. Are you more of an auditory learner? I wish I was, but I think I need to "see" something, even when I hear it, for it to stick at all.
That's right about Snappsy and pinochle! How could I forget? It's what best friends do, along with braiding hair, etc. :)
Definitely adding Shirley (Ms. Jackson, if I'm nasty) to my TBR pile. :)