Our short attention span

Ha ha... I seem to be addressing quite a few of our inner issues today. But only because introspection seems more interesting than the tasks I NEED to get done today.

This one is (obviously) about our short attention span and not finishing what we started.

Right now, for instance, I've got writing work to do from home (I've decided to give freelancing a go for cash in the meantime) but as I sit here and write even these words, I'm all fidgety (and have clearly deviated from the work I started doing before I remembered to check dxp!).

I have a half written story which I freaking hope I can find the self-discipline to finish without getting that distracted that before I know it, I wake up and it's tomorrow! My deadline for the story is today :o

How do you guys deal with your astrological attention deficit disorder?

I can't even sit through movies or Tv shows sometimes let alone more serious things like finishing my degree. It takes alot for me to finish what I started, but the more I'm aware of the more Ill challenge it and myself. Im only 25 and I have alot of inner growing to do, the first step is acknowledgement and I'm optimistic that I will get better at it. I suffer in this area alot so, I know I have to work harder to overcome it. I have my mom who puts fire under my butt too, and for that I'm very grateful.

I try to get into zone and focus on working hard now so I can enjoy the weekend or focus on completing it so you will be done.

I think nerves and anxiety in my life get me to stray more than anything, so I definitely find anything and everything that will hook me into the project and avoid distractions. Many times I will use the work as a way to distract me from what else is going on.

I do everything in my life to reduce any hour-to-hour distractions, especially when working from home. Zero TV unless it is a weekend (tape/DVR anything I might want to watch). I never do texting, total distraction, if it has to be done I do it after I have my work day done. Email I can't do unless it is work related, so I try break up my internet experience where I have a work email and private email, work email I can keep open and let alerts happen, but private stuff I only deal with after hours.

I invest myself in the project. It can be hard to complete something when you identify it as alien to you (oh this is what so and so wants me to do, I would never do it this way etc etc). Behaving like this is your project, or your responsibility is the way to go instead of feeling like it is a chore.

Many times we can't pick our work, but eventually we find work we enjoy to do, that helps a lot.

We are faced with struggles in all of our lives, but we have a lot of strengths that help us manage these things like attention problems. Yes we will forever want the new things in life, and we aren't very good at following things through, but I strongly believe it helps us get our priorities in life straight ... is this job fun enough? are the people I work with cool and interesting? am I bored because I am being lazy and distracted or what?

If I think of anything else I will surely add more later, good luck with your projects!

Pheeeeeeewwwww!!! I finished writing the story right now. It's 7:20pm here. I think I started writing it at like noon or something stupid and just kept getting distracted by stupid emotional shit and checking on here.

BUT AT LEAST I PUSHED THROUGH AND PUSHED MYSELF TO FINISH IT! Super proud of myself right now 😄

That's day one down! Only four more to go! Eeeeeek! If I manage to pull off all five days of finishing work tasks from home in a row.... I don't even know how I will reward myself for being such a winner at life this week!

WOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!

if you are writing and getting all fidgety then that might be your brain saying "hey give me a break" if you look at something else for a while you can come back to your work with fresh impetus.

If you are on a roll of course, you shouldn't stop!
I am sure it also helps if you love what you are doing🙂(not sure what % of the human population love their work—)


I find I am just getting into a movie when it ends - they should go for at least 3 or 4 hours.

are you distracted by anything in particular?

can you try little lists?

-make cup of coffee
-work on story 10 minutes- doesn't matter if it is not actual sentences, just brainstorm/ write a bunch of words about the story "fireman" "tree" "pussycat" "little old lady" etc
you can put them together later, just make sure you use those 10 minutes (or 5 if you can't quite manage 10!)
-after 10 minutes (unless you are on your roll) put down your pen and play an awesome song on your ipod, do some stretches, rock around the house, take the garbage out - whatever.
-another 10 minutes on your story etc etc
- I like to add things like 'clean the loo' which is also a bit of an added incentive to keep writing!

main rule is if you are on a roll and in the zone keep writing. if not, do your wordstorming thing for the allotted time then break it up. Make it fun.

Take it slow. Be patient with yourself. Many Rams expect themselves to be perfect. Remember no one else is, so why should you be the odd one out?