How to avoid shiny object syndrome when writing or working
If you're anything like me, you sit down at your computer to be really productive that day (or with those few hours you have in between work and sleep), and before you know it, it's hours later and you haven't gotten anything done.
It's because of new emails. New @mentions on Twitter. New notifications on Facebook. Reading a blog post, that references you to other blog posts, that references you to online shopping, that all branches out into this explosion of Shiny Objects that you just can't ignore.
What is Shiny Object Syndrome?
It's like when a toddler has a mission to do something, and then his mom jingles keys in front of its face, and it's new mission is to get the keys. Or like in Disney's movie Up...
SQUIRREL!
I was inspired to write this post by Amy on savvysexysocial.com, as well as from my own incredibly morbid Shiny Object Syndrome symptoms. The stand out take-away tip from her The Right Setting to Write post is to blog outside of your blogging platform, because there are just too many distractions while you're "plugged in" with your internet browser open.
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My best tip: open up TextEdit (or Notepad, for my non-Mac friends), turn off your wi-fi, and get blogging! You'll be amazed at your ability to focus, and the words will pour from your brain, to your fingertips, onto your keyboard and onto the screen (which isn't quite as elegant as words pouring onto the page, but you get what I mean).
Potential excuse? But I need to do research while I blog!
Answer: research first and then blog, OR get blogging and finish, and then when you need to insert links, photos, references, etc, do that after the fact. Worried about forgetting to go back in and fixing everything? Make notes to yourself, like ****INSERT LINK HERE!!!**** or if you're a nerd like me, blog in HTML. And, honestly, if you're that worried, you probably don't edit your posts enough. So, edit!
The most important thing is content, so make sure you have that into place before you add formatting, links, and photos.
Mind you, I'm writing this post to help both you and myself. So far this method is working great for me. Let me know if it works for you, or how you manage your Shiny Object Syndrome!
Cover photo by Jess Watters
