Less Time Online

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I've been experimenting with trying to spend less time online. Checking e-mail only 10 times a day versus 40 (seriously), not going online after 8 PM, choosing to get up and walk away if I don't have a purpose for being online (versus hanging out on Facebook, seeing if anyone has updated their blog, or googling random topics). 

It's been... okay. I have a serious addiction to e-mail and find I'm nervous if I go over 30 minutes without checking it. Shockingly, it does not appear I am so important in the grand scheme of life that anyone can't wait the extra hour or two for me to get back to them. 

I really enjoy walking away from the computer at night and on weekends. I'm able to more fully relax. I breath deeper on Saturdays knowing it's a "no computer" day.

It's a matter of establishing new habits and getting other people accostomed to those habits. Since people are so used to me responding instantly to e-mails, I've gotten a few "Are you there? Did you get my last e-mail?" follow-ups. But my friend Laine is a good role model. I know Laine checks her e-mail around 11 am and again in the late afternoon, so I don't expect to hear from her until one of those two times. Now, the chance of me checking e-mail only two times a day is non-existent. But that's okay. Baby steps. 

It's not even the being online that I mind. It's the mindlessness of so much that I do online. I'm trying to take a more active role in how I choose to spend my time. Tonight, for example, I could pick away at a few projects but I know I don't work well at night so, instead, I went to the library and am going to spend the night losing myself in a novel. 

Starting right now. 

Cheers,

Dena

Perhaps Medication Would Help

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Today's blog post is more for my benefit than yours. I don't know if we're in some weird phase of the moon or if perhaps latent ADD has kicked in, but scattered is the only word to describe my mental processes these days. I have an abundance of "stuff" begging to be checked off the list but I'm paddling with one oar and going in circles. I thought maybe taking a little breather to just sit back and list what needs to happen in my life might calm me down and provide a little focus.

Dena's "I Must Be In Control & Do Everything Or Die Trying" List

Arts Council - Type and submit Membership/Fundraising committee notes, follow-up with member on hosting radio show, prepare press release, friend on FB fan page

Blue Ridge Relay - 208 mile race starts this Friday! To buy: headlamp, socks, travel pillow DO LAUNDRY! Bring: sheet, cash, towel, blanket, pillowcase, video recorder, reflective vest and light, notebook/pen, travel games, extra shoes...

Animal Protection Society/Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce coffee - The APSRC is hosting a chamber coffee this Thursday from 8-9 AM at the Hunter House Bed & Breakfast (my neighbors!). I'm the rep for our group. WED: pick up bagels at Panera. Buy regular coffee to make. Check with B&B about using their coffeepot. Buy orange juice, fruit. Review recent stats of animals helped for mini-speech as coffee host. 

Book Promotion: Finish going through Twitter pals to send postcards to. Arrange blog tour. Compile list of people willing to write reviews and send to publicist. E-mail nice woman who has been waiting over a week for my response about appearing on her pod cast. 

Decide what to write for my next book. (No, I can't even think about it now. My brain will explode.) 

November Speech - I'm a guest speaker in November at the international Cat Writer's Association in NY. Haven't started on my talk and quite a bit of research is involved. Yeah. Also, contact hotel and make sure room has Wi-Fi capabilities

Buy plane ticket. Flying to Chicago in October to visit my sister and then will drive back to NC with my Mom, her cat, and her overweight Maltese who is afraid of the car. Call sister & mom to coordinate arrival/departure dates.

Answer e-mails - Friends and clients are waiting for responses. Book project for client is on hold. Must. Do. Now.

Dinner: Needs to sit in fridge at least an hour to mix flavors and will take about 30 minutes to make. 

Okay, all of the above needs to happen before Thursday at 2:30 PM. After that, I'm gone to Blue Ridge to test my legs against some hills. Thanks for letting me vent. I feel calmer seeing it all written out. Now it's just a matter of focusing and going down the list one by one, until everything is done. 

Deep breaths,

Dena 

Strong Role Models

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I did a radio interview the other day and one of the questions thrown at me was, "Who do you admire?" I wasn't thrilled with the answer I gave. I babbled something about how I've always responded to the wrong role models. If someone I know does great things, I tend toward apathy after spending time with them. I'm happy for them, but I wander around in a daze for awhile, trying not think about how much I have left I want to accomplish in life and wondering how they managed to do so much with theirs. 

On the other end of the spectrum, put me in a room with a deadbeat for 10 minutes and I'll stay fired up for a week. Projects, done! New proposals, done! Networking, marketing, housework, exercise, done, done, done, done! Something about seeing people flounder around in their own lives motivates me to do more with my own. (Nice, I know.)

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Today Only! A Tour of the Land of Unfinished Projects

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If, like me, you find yourself among the three people in town who did NOT head to the beach for Labor Day weekend, I present you with an alternative form of entertainment: A tour through the land of unfinished projects. No ticket required, just a deep burning desire to feel superior to someone who is even more behind in life than you are. I hope this helps.

STOP #1: The Never Ending Pile of "Stuff"

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