Time to Think

Last week, my computer decided that it wasn’t going to work. This concerned me, because I didn’t want to loose any of my files in case the cold metal box never breathed again, and also because I’ve known for a while that I’m simply addicted to my computer.

I sit at the screen, even when I’m not actively doing anything, expecting it to entertain me when I’m bored and hoping that its endless streams of information will educate me, and so on. Doing anything away from my computer for entertainment simply does not occur to me very often.

After researching what was wrong with the computer, I was able to assure myself that it would indeed work again and I wouldn’t lose anything. I would just have to wait a week for it to be fixed.

A week. I went a week without my computer (but not without internet, because I do have my phone and Kindle.) Here’s what I found:

It was actually…very freeing! Not that being on the computer doesn’t also equal the best way to write, but I found that I could think more clearly. I read three books! I went outside and took a walk in the snow! I did several things around the house. I started feeling like I could write again. And I did! I fired up an extremely old laptop that is so slow it’s good for absolutely nothing except writing – and that’s what I did. In fact, it might be my new writing device. There is basically no way I could be distracted by using it.

Years ago, I was able to write so much because my internet was soooo sloooow that it wouldn’t even play a video. There were fewer things to be distracted by. No Netflix, no Youtube, no endless articles about writing or cute puppies and kittens. The struggle is real, and I am so easily distracted.

My PC is fixed now, but I’m trying not to go back to my old ways so quickly. Yes, I’ve still been using it a bit, but I’m also giving myself more time to completely turn it off, or to not even turn it on when I don’t have to use it. My goal is to read more and think more.

I spend a lot of time “off the grid” anyway as far as social media inactivity, but the truth is that my brain just can’t handle it. I need to learn how to write for love again and enjoy simpler things.

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This all leads me to think about what I want to accomplish this year, and the main thing I want to do is to write. I don’t know how much I’ll publish, but that’s usually how it goes for me. I spend the first part of the year kicking back, and then I suddenly realize I’ve done nothing and I really need to write/publish something.

In my downtime, I realized that there are 4-5 projects that I really want to work on this year, and I may wind up doing that. It would be nice if I could finish at least one completely new work, but more than that is also welcome. I’d feel proud of myself if I could complete something new without getting distracted by something else. As far as what I’ve just been working on, I’m not sure if it will turn out to be a real project or if I’m just messing around, but either way it feels good to record a few words.

After I finish this post, I’ll be shutting down again and will hopefully take that time to reflect and be productive.

Also, as a side note, Nevermor is now priced at 2.99 on Amazon. I’m not sure how long it will stay that way, but I was wanting to run an ad and see how it goes at the new price. It’s still my bestseller, and maybe it would help me get more attention if I put more time and effort into the books I already have out.

Once again, thank you for all the support!