I promised myself I would try this: writing in a different part of my home.
As much as I love writing at a coffee shop (the romance cannot be beat), I wouldn't mind saving a few bucks by staying home. Not to mention; there are plenty of days where I have a few hours between waking up and getting to work and I would love to take better advantage of that time. My appointment anxiety will not allow me to do so at a coffee shop, so here we are!
I have found that I am often unable to work at the coffee table in my home. And as far as the bedroom goes: the only time I have been able to work from within my bed was during my time at Pine Street. Twas a magical time. Also: I was on a fairly tight deadline before publishing. Other than the floor; the only surface left would be J's desk - off-limits, as far as I am concerned. Partly due to the face that he should have some place that is only his own and partly because I feel as though it would be as mystically disastrous as wearing another man's shoes - and the island / bar in the kitchen.
So far so good! The counter top to stool ratio is serviceable and the elevation makes me feel as though I am doing something special and/or important. The most useful, I believe, is the fact that I have never once actually sat here. So this spot has not necessarily been claimed. Sure I have cooked in here plenty, but when I cook, I am zipping around - chopping this and tasting that. Eyes on the noodles. The timer, for the roasting veggies or tofu. I am a true believer in the power of claiming a space ever since I read that article in Cosmo (something I was/am incredibly unlikely to do).
It is tough to be a realist and to not believe in the cosmic mysticism of the universe at such times: there's this magazine I don't care about, in my home because my well-intentioned (but clueless - it is astounding how un-well we know each other, isn't it?) boyfriend bought it for me one day when I wasn't feeling well. I spent all day in bed eating the odd hard candies and smelling the flowers and flipping through the 'zine he got me. After the attempts to fall back asleep got my goat, I decided to actually read this thing.
Amongst the overpriced name drops and 101 ways to achieve 86 orgasms - every time! was an article about sleeping. How fortuitous! I needed all the rest I could get. And I was ready to try anything. I dug in and remember my cortex being positively tingled by something; this article had stated: often times, when people have difficulties sleeping in their own bedroom, it is due to the other activities that they choose to do while in bed. If you use your bed for hanging out, watching t.v., doing your bills, taking phone calls, doing art projects... then of course when it comes time for you to get to sleep, your brain is going to (at least in part) be preparing for other such activities. Instead of the psychological queues you should get by even entering your bedroom / touching down onto your bed at the end of the day, all your brain is thinking is: "So what'll it be now?? A little t.v.? Some organization? OOH - how 'bout a coloring book??"
This is obviously not helpful. Especially when we are already having troubles turning off our brains from our busy days.
The article suggested that the bed be for sleep, sex and maybe reading (the idea being that reading to wind down and get to slumber land is way more conducive / likely to work better and faster than, say, winding down by watching television). Ever since that random article, I have had another tool in my toolbox for accomplishing tasks I simply can't seem to complete.
I used to find reading terribly difficult to do and I used this concept to help myself get into a flow. Sometimes it's finding the right chair that I can comfortably sit still in (if I am uncomfortable when reading, I find it awfully distracting). Sometimes it's setting the right mood at home - a long, relaxing playlist with smooth tunes, a candle, a big glass of water (or wine, depending) and perhaps some snacks. And sometimes it still comes down to casting myself out to a place that is not my home with only my book; effectively marooning myself and leaving only my book as entertainment. But the thing that works the best to get the ball rolling? Still space-claiming.
I know that if I could leave my laptop plugged in, atop this counter top, open and on a blank blog entry page / word document, I would be able to pop in and out of writing so effortlessly. Just a here-and-there activity. And perhaps someday I will live in a place where that will make more sense. However, this is a kitchen counter. It is for food. And I am not upset to say that we have lovely food to chop, cook, heat up and eat at least three times daily. So it makes a little more sense to put the chromebook away between sessions, for now. I guess I will have to still put a little effort forth. I mean, if something is too easy to do, do you even know if you actually want to do it?
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