Distractions are everywhere. There are the obvious ones like television, video games, social networks, and going out on the town for this or that. And then there are the ones that seem less obvious–the things that might make us feel like we’re doing something useful, but which are really just keeping us from doing other, more important things. As authors, our biggest question is how to navigate life’s many distractions so that we can get down to business and do the thing we need and desire to do most: write.
The first, and sometimes easiest method is to simply avoid the distraction in the first place. It’s not always possible, alas, but honestly, the best way to keep something from eating away at your time is to avoid the temptation entirely. Is television your biggest enemy? Unplug it. Is it too easy for you to get lost browsing search results? Turn off your internet connection for a while. Too tempted to go for just one more level on that favorite game of yours? Uninstall it from your computer, or else keep the console unplugged and tucked away where it won’t be staring at you all the time. Obviously, all of these solutions are reversible, but they increase the amount of effort it takes to get to them, and that always helps. “But what if I’m expecting a phone call?” you may ask. That’s fine. Just keep your phone on, but place it on the other side of the room. Out of sight, out of mind.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. Some things cannot simply be unplugged or turned off when we feel like it. Life gets in the way. Friends and family can place obligations on us that are difficult if not outright impossible to avoid. In these cases, the most you can do is set certain boundaries. Set aside a certain time block and let everyone know that you are unavailable during that block–just like when you’re at your day job (assuming you have one, as most writers do). Perhaps there are even certain days of the week you want to set aside just for doing your own thing. Make it known, and don’t give in to requests that aren’t absolutely essential.
That’s where the slippery slope of flexibility comes in. Obviously, in the ideal world, your boundaries would be set in stone and nothing would change them. But there are some things we simply can’t escape. I am all for spending the time you need to with family and friends–we never get enough of that in today’s busy world, after all. But of course, if we spend too much time doing the fun things in life, we will never get anything substantial done. It’s a tricky path to navigate, and the road will vary greatly from person to person. But at the end of the day, as long as you can set aside the time you need to write, that’s what really matters. If there’s time afterward for the fun things, so much the better.
What it all really boils down to is self-discipline. This is particularly important in the early phases of setting up your new production routine, as it can be hard to adjust at first. But, if you stick to it and strictly maintain your own boundaries, eventually it will get easier as you and everyone around you gets used to it. You may even find after a while that some of those things you thought you couldn’t live without before end up collecting dust, making you question why you ever bothered with them in the first place.
None of this is to say that we can’t enjoy other things too, of course. Life without variation of any sort can get very monotonous very quickly, no matter how much we may love the one thing we’re doing. Just don’t lose sight of your ultimate goal, and you’ll manage to find that balance between pursuing that ideal writing career and handling all the other tasks that life expects us to deal with.