There is nothing new under the sun, right? Right.
So you aren't the only one to ever experience distractions, or shall I say allow distractions to disrupt your focus on something you really need to accomplish, which in our particular case is writing. Just to name a few of my own distractions that got the best of me a while back ...
1. Internet
a. Social media especially. Get off Twitter and Facebook.
If you’re a normal 9am to 5pm working chica like myself then you aren’t getting
paid to do that crap. ;-) And let’s take a minute to be real, most of the folks
you talk to on those social media sites you haven’t seen in your physical life
in you don’t know how long. So, try to ease off of it a bit.
2. Social Butterfly
a. Look, it’s perfectly fine to be a homebody.
Disconnecting yourself from the world for a little while may be just what you need to get your mind focused on writing again. Now, let’s not sink into depression
or do anything crazy by your lonesome. Just get some time to yourself. Your
friends will live if you take a break from the daily, weekly, or weekend
outings.
3. Reading Books
a. I love to read. We all do. However, wouldn't it be
awesome to hold your own published novel? As a Writer, it’s important to read a
lot, but there has to be a limit so you can get some of your own work done. For
the better part of summer 2011 I read, read, read and
my book collection tripled. Lol crazy, I know. I didn’t even realize most of my
leisure time was spent reading instead of writing until my father said, “…Geez,
you’re reading all those other books, you need to work on your own…” He was so
right.
4. Work
a. Most of the time your job never pays you what you’re
worth. Sometimes your job may require you to take work home and you find
yourself conducting research, analyzing data, compiling reports, and reviewing
other folks work and so on. First of all, manage your time. There are plenty of
hours in the day to arrange time to complete your work and squeeze in some hours for writing as well. Don’t allow work to consume your life…you might have a
breakdown. I’m just saying…it can happen.
Now I've said it before and I'll say it again, I use the Bible to enhance my walk with Christ and knowledge of the Word of God...however, I also apply the information to my life in virtually diverse ways as well. For instance, the scriptures below are a few of my favorite verses concerning distractions.
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel; which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." --Galatians 1:6-7
"Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you." --Proverbs 4:25
"And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.--1 Corinthians 7:35
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." -- 1 Corinthians 10:13
Just like I can't allow myself to get distracted by the things of this world and let them come between me and Jesus, I won't allow the distractions of the world to come between the gift God has placed within me to use for his glory. If you're reading this blog then writing plays a huge factor in your life, dreams, ambitions and so on. For me, this is my future. Although I have a degree and a back up with Education and all (my parents were sticklers for the "back up plan"), I want to live off my writing and I will.
Be alert at your work. Get rid of the distractions that defer your dreams.
What good are they to you anyway?
