December 7, 2007 • Print This Post
I’m working on a Christmas story for next year, am in fact on deadline, so naturally I’m surfing the net. I got lost on TMZ for an hour, having lots of fun being a celebrity stalker. Just when I think that my life is rough, there’s Amy Winehouse flashing her va-jay-jay, or Britney shopping for light fixtures while her children are waiting in her car, or Akron throwing a kid off the stage and then acting all shocked to find out that’s frowned upon in today’s society.
After my pop culture fix, I sat in the living room in front a raging fire. It was snowing outside, just gorgeous. I was going To Write. Really. But then the puppy stepped on the remote and Project Runway came on. I’ve never seen that show but have to tell you, I was instantly hooked. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t reach the remote, and complicating matters, Bravo was running a Project Runway marathon.
Four episodes later, I finally pried myself away from the TV, but then the kitten commandeered a long-lost grape, and she was rolling around with it, chasing it, stalking it, attempting to bite it, and this amused me for another hour.
Clearly, I need help.
So I’m asking. Whatever your job, how do you stay focused?? What’s the trick?? And don’t say cookies. I’ve tried that and now my sweats are too tight. 
Posted by Jill Shalvis @ 1:00 am • Filed under: General, Jill Shalvis
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I write. I work from home. I am a blog addict and procrastination pro. I am no help to you…
p.s. Project runway rocks. Make it work!
Making lists.
I grew up in one of those “work now, play when you’re done” households, so when it is time for my job, I get my list done first. At home, if I need to do it, I have to make the list.
Writing, however… well, writing just doesn’t cooperate with the whole list thingy. Writing just wants to play with Procrastination until my whole day is shot.
I have complete faith in you, Jill. You’ll get that story out, and we’ll all love it!
Sorry. No help here either. Now, if you want more suggestions on how to waste time on the internet, I’m your gal!
SOMEONE come through for us procrastinators!
Since I work in an office, my help is others around me. I must admit if I worked from home the internet and tv would both be a big problem for me…in fact the internet is sometimes a problem for me at work.
My oldest daughter got hooked on Project Runway two seasons ago and now has all of the females in our household equally hooked. Hubby tolerates it - one episode at a time - I think a marathon would send him screaming from the house.
As for staying focused - um, I’m at work now and checking out your blog - that doesn’t say much for my focus factor now, does it??
I believe those of us who procrastinate live longer lives since we don’t constantly put ourselves under pressure. I’m sure that taking frequent breaks is good for the heart.
Ha, you’re asking the wrong person Jill. Right now I’m at home - took a vay cay day - and instead of getting out and being productive, I am on the computer.
Now, if I’m at work, I do try to procrastinate, because I am proud of something I can do so well, but The Man blocks a lot of blogs and fun websites like TMZ. Darn them. Don’t they know how important this stuff is? Then I must work. But I can still check my Yahoo mail….so all my Yahoo group messages are sent to my email addy. Yay, procrastination success!
I’m also a blog hopper and visit yours daily. This keeps me focused by reading these regularly.
I’m interrupting my TV watching and Christmas Hangman to answer this. Obviously, I’m no help at all.
Sorry, I can’t help. I am easily distracted and find myself doing just about anything to avoid work some days.
Good luck.
Sorry Jill, I am no help as I can procrastinate with the best of you!!!
My guess is when the words & the story won’t leave you alone you will sit down at the computer & make your deadline.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Take care,
Donna M
To stay focused I just have to close out of all my browsers and turn on my playlist. There’s one song: The Lucky One by Alison Krauss that just screams GO! Write! The minute I hear it. It’s like that bell thing. Everything shuts down and I go into writer mode.
TMZ is the devil. It sucks you in and refuses to let go. And if you’ll excuse me, I’m totally heading over there now to go check it out because I forgot about it until this post.
I visit blogs every day—Sorry, can’t help you.
Sorry Jill I am a life long member of that club. I put off things all the time. I should be doing my christmas cards since I have a rare night home but here I am on the computer….
Sorry I have no advice for you either, since I find that I can put things off and easily get distracted. So I am of no help.
Sorry, no help here! I am a compulsive procrastinator. If I can find a way to procrastinate later, I would.
That should actually read, if I could find a way to procrastinate my procratination I would.
Gee, I hope that makes sense. This being sick, bites!
Pop on some music and turn everything else off. But, then again, I can be easily distracted if I let myself. *g* Of course I can also tune everything out of I really want. *g* I’m no help, sorry!
I work with little kids (3-5 years old), so just being around them keeps me pretty focused (most of the time anyway) because they demand so much of my attention.
It’s a matter of semantics, Jill. you say ‘procrastination’. I say ‘percolation’. Every thing I write seems to need time to percolate. In the meantime, I can check out my fave blogs, think about organizing my office, dream of a clean house, consider alphabetizing my spice drawer…all in the name of percolation.
lol.
Hey, Jill. Stop fooling around and get working on getting us more of your books. Santa is watching. You don’t want to get coal in your stocking.
any winners from previous blog