I recently read a blog post about ‘writer’s fatigue,’ and suddenly my inattentiveness, lack of focus, and my ADHD approach to writing made perfect sense. I’ve got writer’s fatigue. Who’d of thunk? Boom, problem solved. No, not really, but it helped me to reach the difficult decision that will hopefully lead to a more focused, in-tune me. So, what is ‘writer’s fatigue’ you ask? Excellent question.
The blogger described how getting ‘tuned-in’ to the internet and technology turns off your creative process and distracts the brain from doing what you’ve set out to do, at least that was my interpretation of his writings. And it’s true, how easy it is to get on the internet and get completely sidetracked and distracted because of all the social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, Blogger…. Even music can be a distraction that doesn’t allow our minds to focus properly. I know that I do my best writing when I’m by myself in silence so that I can completely focus on my work. It’s been a long time since I was able to do that because of the pull and enticement of popping online for ‘a few minutes’ to just ‘check’ Facebook or ‘browse’ through my e-mail… we all know it’s always going to be more than a few minutes, and for most of us, it can be a few hours before finally returning to the task at hand. Ugh, too true.
I never wanted to be one of those people. You know, the avid Facebook checker, the obsessive smart phone user, the one who is seemingly controlled and diverted by technology… unfortunately, for as long as I held out, the allure was too much and I got hooked. I can’t tell you how many times a day I pull out my phone to check IMDB for random factoids that don’t really matter but helps me to argue a point about an actor or actress or movie that I saw five years ago but can’t remember the particular details about. It probably wasn’t the best movie if I can’t even remember who starred in it anyways, but there I am, whipping out my sweet phone to check it out. Oh, and Facebook? Forget it. I’m pulled in every few minutes to see if there are comments or new friends to add or messages in my inbox. It’s ridiculous and I’m embarrassed by the fact that I’ve stooped to this level. Really, should I care about how many friends I do or don’t have? Is it really important to read through all of my friend’s status updates? Is there life altering information every three minutes that forces me to check my newsfeed? No.
For a few days, I decided to try a self-imposed break from being online. Truthfully, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I still had my phone, but I didn’t check my Facebook or e-mails from it, it served its purpose of telling me the time and being my alarm clock, oh and keeping in contact with people I see on a regular basis. You know, the actual function of a cell phone before it blew up to be this mini Mecca of super technology. I even *gasp* left my computer at home instead of toting it around with me like I usually do. My shoulder miraculously didn’t hurt for those few days… needless to say, it was a huge relief not being so dependent on all of this technology that can bog you down and suffocate you without even realizing it.
After I read through the ‘writer’s fatigue’ blog, it was clear why it’s been so difficult to produce anything worth, well, anything. The endless distractions that not only the internet but technology itself provides is astounding, and I had hardly realized it before. Not to say that I’m going to delete my Facebook account, or throw my computer in the trash, come on my computer is like my baby, but the realization I’ve had will allow me to proceed with caution and awareness. I won’t be blindly jumping online every time I turn my computer on because I know now that that’s not what’s most important. Just because the technology is there, doesn’t mean I have I abuse it, and that’s what I’ve been doing for too long. Appreciate without letting it consume, that’s my new philosophy and I’m sticking to it.
I started writing this post with a pen (eeep!) and actual paper (no way!) and it felt really good. Awe Yeah.
