A2eatwrite: Punk'd

Friday, May 9, 2008

Punk'd

My school year is finally done.

I've completed all my grade reports except two, and I'm waiting for out-standing work to complete those. My graduation cards have been bought and I'm in the process of writing them.

C is out of his crisis mode. He even has a three-day weekend this weekend and almost no homework.

My mother's visit has been postponed.

So, you would think this is the perfect time to get in lots and lots of writing and continued work on my greening projects, right?

Wrong.

What is it about having the time to actually get things done that makes it impossible to actually get those things done? Why am I so much more constructive when I have no time, than when I have plenty of time?

Why do I visit Facebook when I have a draft waiting for major revisions???

I'm not a last-minute deadline person. I've always tried to get things done in a bit-by-bit fashion, but somehow, busier seems to breed better productivity for me.

I'm feeling punk'd by my personality.

Anyone else have this problem?

32 comments:

anno said...: I think it means you need a vacation: some real time to rest, read books, take walks, look at pictures, smell freshly-mown (by your DH or DS, naturally) grass, and otherwise refuel and re-create yourself. You'll feel like writing again. Have faith.; May 9, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Madam Crunchypants said...: You know, knowing my kewl blawg buddies are on facebook makes me want to me un-anonymous :D

I think... the writing will come, the projects will get finished. Sometimes you just need to flake out and veg.; May 9, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...: Oh I'm exactly like that. Whenever I finally get some free time after a big project, etc., I just get completely lazy and time-wasting.

It's lovely :); May 9, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Jen said...: Anno, you might well be right, but of course, you know some of the other challenges I've been dealing with, as well. ;-)

Ella - I'll e-mail you on that. ;-) And yes, you're right.

Michelle, those may have been just the words I needed to hear. Of course, if I lived in an Italian town with mountains AND water, I might flake all. the. time.; May 9, 2008 at 1:01 PM
CableGirl said...: OH my, do I ever understand this. I always get so much more accomplished when I'm pressed for time. I guess it's a time management issue.; May 9, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Jen said...: It probably is, CG, but I'd rather just think it's that I need some goof off time!; May 9, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Marianne Arkins said...: There is something in the air this week... I'm telling you what. That has been the story of my week.

Tell me if you figure out what to do. In the meantime, I'll be here, running in place.; May 9, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Jen said...: Maybe we need to go on a picnic, Marianne? ;-); May 9, 2008 at 1:52 PM
thailandchani said...: Actually, I don't know what that's like. Largely because I don't "do" pressure well. If there is too much, I become immobilized by it so I'm rather "one step at a time" until the things I need to get done are done - but they're definitely done on my schedule unless it involves someone else. In that case, it gets done when I've promised to get it done.

I don't think you can 'force' something like writing. Do it when you feel it.; May 9, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Korie said...: Totally. For three months I had class every day and I was always getting things done. Now I have nothing to do and all I've done is sit in my pjs and surf the internet. I could be writing a zillion things but I'm just vegging. Bleh.; May 9, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Jen said...: Chani, I think I've been a pressure addict, and it's one of the things I'm trying to change. Good for you for sticking to what works for you. I'm trying to figure out what works for me!

Lilac - It's too easy to fall into that. I'm happily not doing too much surfing, but I'm putzing... don't know how else to describe it.; May 9, 2008 at 2:29 PM
April said...: Here's my rationalization for it: your mind, body, all of you needs a little break. Don't beat yourself up. Pretty soon, you'll be itching to get started!; May 9, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Jen said...: Actually, it's kind of funny... since I wrote this earlier, and got it off my chest, I seem to be able to work now! I actually got some revisions done today and am working on house stuff that I need to do. Thanks for the support in any case, April!; May 9, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Alex Elliot said...: I do best under pressure. In fact I was just saying to a friend of mine that although my husband and I have a full year to prepare to put our house on the market, I know that we'll wait until the last minute even though it makes me cringe to think about it. It probably also won't help that I've recently become very into playing Scramble on Facebook in the "live games" rooms!; May 9, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Goofball said...: I am most productive...when feeling guilty about having waisted a lot of time. or getting bored of doing nothing; May 9, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Jen said...: Alex, you're just like my DH. He seems to need that absolute deadline.

And Goofball, I think that just goes with your easy-going personality. ;-); May 9, 2008 at 5:50 PM
glamah16 said...: The pressure of having no time or means drives us more. Simple.; May 9, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Dru said...: It's like when you have time, you have all the time in the world so you put it off until you don't have time, however, when you don't have time, you really, really don't have time.

Have a good weekend.; May 9, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Flower Child said...: TOTALLY. Always get more done when I'm busy. That's why I function better in school than the real world.; May 9, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Jen said...: Courtney - well put!

Dru - I loved that response, lol!

Flower Child - me, too! Me, too!; May 9, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Momisodes said...: I tend to get the most work done with a fire beneath my toosh too. When there isn't much left to do, I tend to fall into "ah, I'd rather just watch TV or read a book" mode.

Congrats on finishing the school year!; May 10, 2008 at 12:05 AM
painted maypole said...: I TOTALLY have this problem, and have since I was in high school. Actually, though, I am now finding it a bit harder to keep up with everything, although I have always thrived on having several pots in the fire.; May 10, 2008 at 12:36 AM
nyc/caribbean ragazza said...: That is a very good question! I agree sometimes it's okay to just relax and veg for a minute.; May 10, 2008 at 5:41 AM
Jen said...: Sandy and Alex - I guess there are many who work better this way!

NYC - I guess that's what I was meant to do for a few days, although I'm feeling more "in the zone" today.; May 10, 2008 at 7:23 AM
Anonymous said...: I hate being under the gun and on other people's schedules.

I'm far more productive with huge swaths of unscheduled time.

Put me under tight deadlines and that's what you'll get -- good work on time.

Give me a huge chunk of time and I can toss in a few short stories and maybe even a novella.

I can write 2-5K a day under the gun.

With no deadlines, I can do 10-12.; May 10, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Jen said...: Devon, that's a wonderful trait, unless you work in a high pressure situation with continual deadlines! ;-) It's nice to know what works best for you.; May 10, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Mikaela said...: No...well yes of course. Im the very same way, and it really bugs me. No time just works so much better, and facebook is the devil..; May 11, 2008 at 2:59 AM
Jen said...: Facebook isn't so much of the devil for me, as you know. ;-) But I'm just not as good with getting stuff done than when I'm... getting stuff done. Ironic.; May 11, 2008 at 12:32 PM
La delirante said...: As "anno" said, I also think it means that you need a break :) time for yourself :) I know what you mean about Facebook. Sometimes I just waste time with the applications though I have house work to do :); May 12, 2008 at 4:01 AM
Jen said...: Yes, well, I've cut back on facebook again. It was a flurry of activity based on some alumni action from my high school. ;-) I hope your week has started well, Wendy!; May 12, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Núria said...: Jen! I'm exactly the same!!!! How fun! Today, though, is an exception; is a holiday here and I feel like sofaing and watching a TV movie, but I'm here writting comments! Maybe the Paella I had for lunch had side effects? ;-); May 12, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Jen said...: I hope you enjoyed your holiday, Nuria! I know I'd need a little break before couch time if I ate paella for lunch!; May 12, 2008 at 10:54 AM