Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Just when I thought things were on an even keel...

Just when I think I have the balance right, I realize that I'm wrong.

This is one of those times.

I thought, yay! My dancing classes are back, and I expect to be back to singing soon. Great to have some variety back.

Except for the past few weeks, I've been struggling to do anything non-writing. Sure, I dance, I go to church, I read (a little) and go to small groups. But all that only accounts for a small portion of my time. The rest of it?

Writing and editing.

Yes, I know that most people would kill to have the amount of writing-time at their disposal that I do, but I think there's a limit.

And I crossed that limit weeks ago.

So now, I'm putting restrictions on my computer time. Since my editing is on my computer, the restrictions put a curb on my writing urges.

Hopefully normality will return soon. Then I might actually be able to interact with real people.

Without my eyes glazing over at awkward times...

Do you have any hobbies/driving passions that threaten to take over all your free time? Or all your time?

13 comments:

[[AguiLeons]] said...

practice your singing soon :)

Susan Kane said...

Yes, I struggle with my passions as well: writing and quilting and blogging.
Fortunately, only my husband and I are in the house, so the messes are relatively easy to solve. But, time goes by when I am in the 'groove' with one of my passions.

susan said...

The trouble comes when it is not your hobbies that take over but your work - good to get that balanced. My partner and I watch out that we keep on an even keel and if you are enjoying your hobbies does it really matter?

Carol Riggs said...

Dancing, how fun!! I just dance for exercise, in the privacy of my own home in between bouts of writing. LOL I just have to limit my social networking time, or it can eat up ALL my time. Good luck finding your balance!

Geoff Maritz said...

Hmm, wasting time on the computer instead of getting things done that need attention, I know what that's like. But you are a writer and spending time editing isn't wasting time nor is writing, I'm neither a writer nor an editor but I do get an immense amount of pleasure from writing blog posts and reading what others have written. Kind of keeps me from cutting the lawn and doing all the other little tasks I need to take care of though. Everything will fall into place soon enough.
Hang in there with God's blessing, Geoff.

Connie Keller said...

Yeah. Writing has a tendency to take over my free time. But worse than that, it tends to take over my emotions--so it flows into other areas of my life. Not a good thing. I keep trying and praying for balance and perspective.

anthony stemke said...

My spouse, the Education Tipster is a dancer. She choreographed a big Christmas production for our Church in 2010 and cast me as satan in one dance plus a couple other numbers that seemed to take forever to learn. I follow a merengue dance exercise dvd on tv a few times a week, and do dumbbell resistance exercises alternate days.
My commercial writing has diminished right now, but I spend time in the kitchen cooking and experimenting, as well as reading, especially creative people like you.
I wish Tipster and I had a little more free time to ride our bikes. Any vacuum fills quickly.
Good luck with your goals.

Steph Schmidt said...

I finally found time for fun reading again. So there's hope yet for me to work in writing again as I slowly adjust to my new job.

dolorah said...

Solataire. And puzzle games. One leads to another, and another.

Too bad they are all on my computer . .

........dhole

Ricardo MiƱana said...

Hi Misha, my best wishes for the book.

I will travel for work in the south and center for 10 days, you have a good week.
a hug.

Mike Keyton said...

The passion I have to drive myself from is writing and things related. Reading, television, Irish music, and drinking are quite potent distractions.

Unknown said...

Excellent point, Mish. Balance. Balance. Balance. No matter what you do, it must be balanced. It's definitely out there, but you have to work to get it. All writing, all the time isn't great for your wellbeing, regardless of how fat your word count gets.

Stretch your legs, I say. : )

Personally, my wife works a very involved job so I have a lot of time to write as well. Our lives also tend to slide into, "just make it through the week, day, etc." mode. As a result, I have to fight letting routine dictate my time, if that makes sense. Sometimes it's ok to have dinner at 8 or to go back upstairs and write after we eat if I wasn't able to get as much done during the day. It gets tough to make those decisions because they don't fit our normal.

EJ

E. Arroyo said...

Ha. I'm feeling the same and I should be unplugged right now, but...here I am. =) Writing and blogging take me away from the real world.