Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Distractions

by Fadra Nally on January 8, 2012 · 21 comments

in Stream of Consciousness Sunday,Writing

Can you believe it’s a week into the new year? It actually feels like longer. I couldn’t believe as I was reading through last week’s post that New Year’s Day was only a week ago. Maybe it’s because I’ve embraced the new year. I’ve actually started doing the things I want to do. I’m running. Okay, I’ve attempted running twice. But I feel like I’m grabbing this year by the horns. I’m pondering decisions. I’m enjoying writing. And I’m a little bit distracted.

(If you need help getting started with your post, here is this week’s optional writing prompt)

When you sit down to write a post, do you get dedicated, devoted time? Are you surrounded by distractions, mental or physical?

Today’s Writing Prompt: Write about the distractions you have right now

Here we go…

—

stream of consciousness Sunday

I’m one of those people that enjoys complete silence when I’m working. And by working, I mean writing. I can multi-task. I just can’t multi-focus. So I’ve never been one to have the radio on to TV while I’m writing or way back when, studying.

Even when I had an office job, I had a strict requirement that I could not share my office with anyone that listened to music all day. I think I have some noise sensitivities. Maybe that’s why me and the whole newborn baby phase didn’t get along real well.

But right now, it’s a Saturday night and I am so distracted. My husband always finds the most obscure shows on Netflix (or Hulu or Roku or whatever we have these days) and watches every single episode. Tonight, I come downstairs set to quickly knock out my post and he’s got a show on called The Misfits. I probably wouldn’t have even glanced at the TV but he insisted on “catching me up” and telling me the incredibly complicated premise of the show.

I listened but plan to go right back to my writing. But he was talking character development. And it involves the supernatural and drugs and sex and murder so it was really, really hard to turn away. And instead of taking a short period of time, I find myself wondering if this post will even make any sense.

I guess it’s just a sign that he loves me and wants me to watch the whole series with him. It’s bizarre enough that I just might do that.

—

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

  • Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
  • Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
  • Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
  • Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
  • Link up your post below.
  • Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Now…

1. Grab the button

(it’s over in the sidebar)

2. Write your post.

3. Link up here.

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  • http://twitter.com/dutchbeingme Julie

    I am the same way with distractions – I can work with music on – but forget it if it’s anything else visual. Like television/movies/twitter… you get the idea. :)

    And that show sounds interesting. I’m going to have to look it up. 

  • http://dominiquegoh.com/ Dominiquegoh

    I too find it very difficult to keep on task when i get distracted by the baby or one of the kids.. it takes like 10x the effort to concentrate. However I feel this year maybe the best time to hone my skills on how to reduce distractions so that I be more efficient.

  • Pingback: SOC Sunday: Undistracted free time? What’s that? |

  • http://www.thelainelist.com/ Laine Griffin

    You inspired me to write about my distractions…in the bathroom…where there are no distractions! I didn’t put it in my post, but my husband got up the other morning to “help” with our baby. I get up super early to work in quiet, and baby had other plans. Which happens at least 3 out of 5 days. Anyway, he got up to help and proceeded to talk my ear off all morning. Hello!! Double distraction!

  • Anonymous

    Funny, I can’t not have some sort of music on when I’m working or studying. When I was in high school, I used to need complete silence to study. But then I went to college and lived in a loud sorority house and I just got used to the noise and now I need to have it. Even when I studied for my comprehensive exams in grad school, I had ear buds in with classical music playing constantly.  The only time I really enjoy silence is when I am reading for pleasure. Then I just want to engross myself in the book.

    And obscure tv shows and having to watch the entire series? Yup. That’s my husband too.

  • Anonymous

    This is awesome!  I have been DISTRACTED lately and haven’t linked up with you in a while, so I didn’t realize you had writing prompts now!  Very excited about that!  I had already written today’s post before I saw the prompt, but I’m looking forward to checking the prompt next week- great idea!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=589321263 Jenn Gilman

    Wow, sounds like an interesting (but distracting) TV show! LOL. I’m rejoining SOC, like the new button!!

  • Anonymous

    Your husband is like mine.  I would never have watched 1000 Ways to Die if it wasn’t for him!  I can do music in the background, and have specific songs for certain tasks.

  • Good Girl Gone Green

    I get so distracted,, so easily!! The tv, fb, twitter and one thing leads to another, 2 hours later and my post has one sentence!! :)

  • http://mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com/ Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

    When I read that you have embraced the new year, I realized I have too. This is a good thing. I can write with distractions like music or the TV. Maybe it comes from 29 years of working in public school. It’s hardly ever quiet for 7 hours of the day. I have all kinds of quiet now and purposefully turn on the radio or TV. It’s funny that your husband thought he had to catch you up on what he was watching. A reminder to myself to stop doing that to my son! Happy New  Year, Fadra. Love the banner.

  • Anonymous

    ”
    I can multi-task. I just can’t multi-focus. ”

    YES! Exactly… 

    I can have music on, but it has to be low volume, otherwise the emotion and the words of the song start to get to me. I can’t watch TV and write though. Not at all. 

  • Pingback: It’s been TOO long! | MUMMY IN PROVENCE

  • http://mummyinprovence.com/ MummyinProvence

    I try and put in place the rule that I can’t be on my computer (except Skype calls) when BiP is up. It’s made me more disciplined in terms of getting stuff done even if I have let MummyinProvence drop … that’s gonna change. 

    I’ve missed so much … you even have a new button … how could you do that to me? Will get the new one in place for next week – post is up and promised myself that I wouldn’t spend more than 10mins on the post … ack. 

  • http://www.raising-humans.com/ Tricia

    Multi-task vs. multi-focus – YES! And my husband does the same to me with the TV shows… so many shows I’ve been reluctantly sucked into.

  • Carolina Diez

    Congrats on starting to run!  I like using Jeff Galloway’s run/walk/run method.  It’s kept me motivated and I don’t get bored.  Check out his website he has loads of info.  He used to be an Olympic runner.  Let me know what you think

  • Anonymous

    If I couldn’t work with distractions I’m not sure I’d EVER get any work done!

  • Alexia @ Babies & Bacon

    I’m a multi-tasked as well and often find myself doing three things at once and struggling to finish one task completely. My years working at a library were the best because of the quiet and calm. I wrote my best thesis statements and studied the hardest while at my library job.

    But your husband is distracting you for a very good reason. Misfits is SO good. And short. Like 18 episodes over 3 seasons. Definitely worth the distraction to spend some quality time snuggled up with Hubs to watch. But you have to watch from the beginning!

  • Victoria Beach

    This is my first time doing Stream of Consciousness Sunday, and I feel like the prompt was just made for me. I always have the best of intentions with posting blogs, but end up putting it off for no good reason at all. 
    I have to put on headphones and crank my music up LOUD to tune everything out, and even then I still can’t stop watching whatever else is going on around me most of the time. 

  • http://blahyaya.com/ alisha

    with all that going on, i’m pretty sure this post just told my future. 

  • http://www.livinglavidanormal.com SimplyGabriela

    Sorry we won’t be able to share an office, I’m one of those that works with music on all day long. Although sometimes I turn the radio off in the car and drive in complete silence because my brain has had too much.

    I’ll have to look into that tv show and see if it’s something hubby and I will enjoy.

  • http://www.tatterscoops.com Tatter Scoops

    That’s an awesome distraction tho. Great prompt this week, Fadra. :)

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