I’ve written here about procrastination and how good I am at. Now it’s time to confess that I also suffer from the opposite of procrastination. I’m not sure if there’s a word for it – but instead of putting something off, it’s when you try to rush ahead of yourself to do something before it’s really time.
I don’t know whether to call myself an expert at this, or a victim of it.
My problem, in addition to trying to find creative ways not to write, is that my brain is always months ahead of me. Once I decide I want to do something, I want it done already. I don’t want to wait for the allotted time, or follow a carefully planned schedule. I just want to already be there.
It’s like planning a sun-drenched vacation and wishing you were already there while you’re still making reservations. Only much worse. It’s more like packing your bags and waiting at the airport for a month before your flight takes off.
Last year, I came up with my series idea – and I spent twelve months working on it, wishing all the stories were already finished. Now I’m procrastinating with the last four stories and wondering how I can get them done on my original timetable without working on them on my original timetable, or my adjusted timetable…or at all.
My plans for 2014 have already formed in my head. I consider them simple and elegant and joyful, and hence I cannot actually wait for them to get started.
Hence my problem. I can’t attain my goal of simple, joyful, elegance until my current project is put to bed, and I can’t finish my current project while my mind is a year ahead of myself enjoying the joys of simple, joyful, elegance. Didn’t someone once say that getting there is half the battle? Or half the fun. I’m not sure, but I disagree with the latter. Getting there is not the fun part. Already being there is the fun part and getting there is a battle – one I’m constantly fighting and haven’t figured out how to win yet.
So I’m looking for advice. How do you get something done when what you really want to do is the thing you can’t do until you do what you haven’t done yet? Do you ever jump ahead when you know you shouldn’t? Does waiting for something to happen or arrive make you utterly insane? How do you deal with it? Do you think sometimes it’s just better to go for it than to wait for the ‘right’ time for something?
3 comments:
Hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure it's still a form of procrastination....it's just wrapped up in a pretty, shiny bow to distract you.
I know this because I battle it ALL the time (and yes, like all warriors, I often lose the battle).
I think recognizing the resistance for what it is, is part of the battle. "Know they enemy!" -- Have you read Pressfield's the War of Art?
I think sometimes it's better to stick with the plan and others it's better to go for it. I'd strongly encourage to focus on the goal rather than the work, and try to figure out which GOAL you want more.
Good luck!
Are you looking in my head? Yeah. I really-really-really-REALLY want to be working on something else but I have one more book to get out before I can move on. Well, three actually but not really. The last two can wait. Or so I've decided. But yes, the shiny is out there all glowy and...and...SHINY! I wants my precioussss now.
The only thing that works for me is the old adage of "One foot in front of the other, keep moving." That's not to say that I don't drag my feet. LOL
And on that note, yeah, I need to get started on that last book...Oh, wait...Groceries! I need to go shopping. *looks shifty-eyed*
JB, I think you may be right. Letting the plot bunnies attack is just another way of putting off the work I need to do.
Silver, it is all about the shiny! LOL. One foot in front of the other is good advice. I need to keep calm and carry on.
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