Last night I mentioned to Tony that it was my turn to do the
post for our blog. He then commented on my tendency to procrastinate and that
studies have shown people who procrastinate tend to come up with the most creative
ideas.
I’m not sure that’s true but I do procrastinate a lot of things.
Even when I think I have a great idea for my next post, I generally don’t even
start writing it before Tuesday night. Lately, it’s been Wednesday morning.
And it’s not like I’m busy.
I spend most of my days sitting on my bed on my tech. Generally,
I spend a few hours each morning doing some mind-challenging games (like
Sudoku) or getting lost down the rabbit hole of social media. In the afternoon
I’ll either read (lately that’s been Kindle books) or watch something with the occasional
dive into making sure all our bills are paid and we have enough left over to
cover groceries and gas until we get more money. I could also spend hours on
end working on one of my WIPS. Once I get started I don’t stop until it’s very
late. Usually, really late.
I don’t know if my issue is daylight or activity, though I’d
guess activity because I have slept during the day. I am not in the habit of
sleeping when I can hear other people up and about.
And that thought just made me realize what the real issue
could be.
Around the time the sun comes up each day, the dogs want
attention, if only to go out back and relieve themselves and Melinda starts her
day. Jerry does too. Neither of them is loud, but I can hear them.
Melinda doesn’t talk much, but I can hear her moving about
the house. From skipping up and down the hall to doing her daily chores, there are
always some sounds to indicate she is up and about.
Jerry tends to be quieter. If he is in the bedroom, he’s at
his desk, has headphones on, and does not move about, much. I can tell he is
there without looking because his jittering and fidgeting have his old chair
doing a lot of squeaking. One of these days, I’ll get up enough nerve to throw
that thing away. Either that or he is constantly going in and out the door. Since
he usually does this to check up on his Akita I’ll also hear him opening and closing
the gate to the dog run. (The gate is by my bedroom window.)
By midday, Jerry will take a nap, or find something to do outside
of the house. Melinda will spend time very quietly browsing the internet,
reading a book, or taking a nap if she doesn’t feel well. But by then I’m engrossed
in something or the boys have woken up for the day.
Conversations are the biggest indicator the boys are up, or
the distinct sounds of Royce running up and down the backyard. Considering it’s
rare for my children to hear me when I call for help if they aren’t in the
hallway, I’m often amazed that I can pick up their conversations when they are
in the front room. Hearing Royce is much easier since he is running right
outside my bedroom window.
Now, when Melinda goes to bed at night, we do turn out all
the lights and anyone still awake tries to be quieter which would be conducive
to getting some sleep myself, especially since the sun is also down by then,
but somehow I never do.
Sometimes I’m balancing a checkbook and need to hunt down
some discrepancy or another. Most of the time I am right in the middle of
reading, writing, or editing something and I want to at least get to a good
stopping point.
I think we’ve all been there. A good stopping point is the
end of the chapter (or scene) but when we reach it, we’re so into the story that
we simply continue until we realize how late it is. Then we’ll chide ourselves to
go to bed at the end of the chapter only to forget again when we reach it.
It’s not unusual for me to notice that it is all but morning
again and force myself to close my laptop and get some sleep. Then when morning
comes I spend the day with a headache because it wasn’t nearly enough sleep.
This all means that I feel like I’m not getting enough sleep.
Or more accurately, I’m not getting enough sleep. But on the plus side, procrastinating
does seem to help me come up with ideas for my posts, and I can type fast
enough to get them ready before our deadline.
Smile. Make the day a brighter day.
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