me and my dad!
i'd say i'm about 5 years old
For the last six months I've been scaling back. I began to find myself feeling like I was on a cycle of not getting anything done while doing something all the time. I began with scaling back time spent on the computer. It felt so good, it led to scaling back more and even more time for creative endeavors (specifically writing).
I've always been a loner at heart and by design. I've got no problem with being alone and prefer it most of the time. I love my friends and also want to create more time with them but they help me out with that. They call me and tell me I've been too busy let's get together or it's been too long we need a date (lucky me!). Creativity, however, doesn't come calling and threatening to drag me to the page. This relationship is all about my making time.
Being diligent these last six months about noticing where my time goes, how it's wasted and can be better spent has led me to some significant observations.
We live in a culture that is always connected, always in touch, hell, one smart phone company commercial boasts, "that was soooo 23 seconds ago" about new information being received "later" than the other guy. On the bus today, at a red light, I looked over to see a man in his truck in the next lane with his laptop open on a car desk! He was checking it and quickly typing for the 45 seconds we were still. As I take part in LinSanity (!!!), I see so many people in the crowd watching the live basketball game with their faces looking into their smart phones and not at the game in front of them. Even baseball announcers have begun talking about tweets they are seeing or tweeting themselves as they call the game over the airwaves.
One of the reasons I've been taking more time away from all this awesome (seriously, it is awesome) technology is because I was noticing it was becoming harder for me to focus and concentrate without getting distracted. I noticed this spilling into my Yoga practices where I'm practicing keeping my mind on one thing, whether it's breath and movement, a meditation, pranayama (breath practice) or even cooking healthy and nourishing meals for myself and my family. But six months ago, it wasn't my normal hard time focusing, my normal monkey mind, but it was becoming a habitual thing. It felt systemic. It became the norm and I had a feeling it was simply from too much- just. too. much. Too much choice, too much information, too many websites, blogs, research, there's always something else to find on the interwebs whether it's one more "Ugh, it's Monday!" from a relative or another website I simply must join. I became over it! So- over it!
I removed myself from the social media, the surfing, the trying to f*ck with Blogger (again!), the tweeting, trying to learn Word Press, sprinkled with lots of dicking around in between and I'm happy with all I've discovered. My mind (our minds) are busy already. I just walked into my office to turn on the wireless, as it loaded, I set up my scanner and scanned a photo of me and my dad on his motorcycle, as that loaded, I peeled a sticker off the scanner, paused to edit said photo, loading... removed all stickers from the scanner, grabbed a card to write a response to a friend, posted the photo on Facebook all while sipping tea. I noticed my breath a few times as I realized and watched myself doing all of these things. I sat in hero's pose with my feet under me and began lifting my heart in between each action and came away in awe of how busy my mind still is... even after this letting go for six months.
Our goal in Yoga Practice is balance. Not practicing 24/7 or not at all, but practicing with diligence and a good heart yet not over-doing it either. It's all about Balance. Instead of renouncing the interweb world forever- I've developed a few stratagems to help me maintain my balance- creatively and mindfully.
1. The Mindfulness Bell Limit time spent surfing. This little gem has been great for when I want to do research, write online or pour over Etsy. I can set it to go off in 30 minutes or 2 minutes. It's a great way to allow some time online without completely losing track of it. If writing online - no email or social media sites are open. I can't resist that little notification thingy, I'm like a moth to the flame.
2. Reserve two days a week for being off line. On my email signature and using my vacation response I tell people I don't compute at all on Sundays and Wednesdays. I got this idea from my dear friend, Sharon Gray of the Art of Nourishment. I want and enjoy being available to my students but I need some Suz days too. This, inadvertently, has become an awesome example of my own diligent self care. Everyone who I email knows, all my students know, my family, co-workers... The few times I have returned an email on my off days I've always been called out on it! It makes me want to honor it even when I'm tempted or just have an I have just a few minutes, might as well, check my email real quick moment. Several people have told me they are practicing this now too. In truth, I was surprised how long it took me to stick to it. Leechblock, a free app designed to limit time online, continues to keep me honest.
3. Also from Sharon- I learned to stop doing anything else when eating at least one meal a day. No computer, no texting, no TV just me and my nourishment. I hold my bowl in my hands, bring it up to my nose to smell it, consider where it came from, what it took to prepare it and then mindfully dig in chewing slowly. Feeling the food go down into my belly where it will continue to digest and create nourishment for my body, mind and spirit. I consider it a meditation- I love this one! It never ceases to amaze me, even now, how often my mind will lead me to do something else- call my dad, write a grocery list, think about class ideas, it's always thinking.
I will also practice this as I drink a cup of tea or a savor a piece of chocolate. Drink or eat with your senses wide open. Be mindfully aware of touch, taste, smell, sight, sound and thought (see 6 Sense Meditation Practice). This is now a mindful meditation practice.
I will also practice this as I drink a cup of tea or a savor a piece of chocolate. Drink or eat with your senses wide open. Be mindfully aware of touch, taste, smell, sight, sound and thought (see 6 Sense Meditation Practice). This is now a mindful meditation practice.
4. When I'm doing something (on or offline) - I ask myself, "Is this something, if it's the only thing I do today, will I be pleased, will I feel productive?" - if not, I get to whatever that thing is first. I even had the question written out and posted above my computer for a few months to remind myself to ask often.
I also posted a photo of myself as a kid beaming on my dad's bike above my desk (posted here for you!) to look at whenever I had to pee and ask, "Would I make that sweet creature wait to pee until I had two more things done?" No way, I'd be a jerk! But wait that's me - and I will more often than not (remember I'm always practicing) stop what I'm doing and get that outta the way.
I also posted a photo of myself as a kid beaming on my dad's bike above my desk (posted here for you!) to look at whenever I had to pee and ask, "Would I make that sweet creature wait to pee until I had two more things done?" No way, I'd be a jerk! But wait that's me - and I will more often than not (remember I'm always practicing) stop what I'm doing and get that outta the way.
5. Social media - Oh, how I love/hate social media! I love feeling connected to my friends and family but realize I don't need to be in touch all day or every day. Stepping back was an eye-opener as I noticed that I would passively see what my friends were up to instead of calling or actually getting together. As it brought me closer to those far away I saw that it also allowed me to grow farther away from the ones who were closer to begin with. I did miss some things and have begun adding them back in but slowly and very differently.
I check in once a week now on my personal Facebook account. It's amazing how quickly I can get through that news feed in one quick glance rather than every day or 3 times a day.
For my business I just post less, much less. I give myself 2-3 posts a week max. It's been cool as it makes me post things that are of higher quality instead of just churning it out every day, 3X a day. I see so many people posting on, Facebook alone (I've even done it!), more than 5 posts a day. Too much!
6. Finally, I unsubscribed from all the email lists I don't read to clear my inbox. This was tough too. I figured if I missed the information I'd go find it again. And you know what? That's just what I did. For the ones I still wanted information from I checked to see if they had a blog rather than subscribing to their newsletter or by asking to be emailed. I add all the blogs I follow to one place - Bloglovin - when I feel like reading- I can head over there to get the stuff I enjoy rather than sitting online surfing.
I continue to step back to clear space and mindfully add things back in that I miss. I now happily dedicate two entire evenings a week to writing. I've also created at least a half hour every day to just write. If I have more time I use it but as a regular daily ritual- I will be writing for at least a half an hour. These are creative dates I don't miss! This time is precious to me, this is my time! I must practice diligence here in safe-guarding this new found time. No friend dates, no TV, and not filling it with other things but reserving it every day, every week to honor my Creative Source and myself as an artist. I don't answer the phone, compute (surf or media) - I just sit in silence or listen to music alone and write. It's divine! This time has been created, so far, by managing time spent mindfully on the computer and in front of the TV. I reserve this time just as I reserve time for my Personal Yoga Practice. In fact, I consider it part of my Practice!
As I continue to clear space to fit more time for creative projects (painting, playing my guitar); I will continue to finesse things. I understand this won't happen overnight but rather with diligent practice I can change any habit; to think otherwise would be an act of sheer folly. Change comes with practice, as with learning new eating habits or practicing meditation, it's not done overnight. It didn't take me a week to get as systemically involved with virtual worlds but several years of cumulative time wasting and learning about the internet- about both it's perks and pitfalls.
How's your concentration? Your focus? Are you honoring your Creative Source? When is the last time you created something? Remember, creative time (as well as Practice time) is earned time, time you must put aside and reserve for yourself, time you must create in your daily/weekly schedule and honor. Pull out a pen and a journal or spare sheet of paper and answer these 3 questions:
I check in once a week now on my personal Facebook account. It's amazing how quickly I can get through that news feed in one quick glance rather than every day or 3 times a day.
For my business I just post less, much less. I give myself 2-3 posts a week max. It's been cool as it makes me post things that are of higher quality instead of just churning it out every day, 3X a day. I see so many people posting on, Facebook alone (I've even done it!), more than 5 posts a day. Too much!
6. Finally, I unsubscribed from all the email lists I don't read to clear my inbox. This was tough too. I figured if I missed the information I'd go find it again. And you know what? That's just what I did. For the ones I still wanted information from I checked to see if they had a blog rather than subscribing to their newsletter or by asking to be emailed. I add all the blogs I follow to one place - Bloglovin - when I feel like reading- I can head over there to get the stuff I enjoy rather than sitting online surfing.
I continue to step back to clear space and mindfully add things back in that I miss. I now happily dedicate two entire evenings a week to writing. I've also created at least a half hour every day to just write. If I have more time I use it but as a regular daily ritual- I will be writing for at least a half an hour. These are creative dates I don't miss! This time is precious to me, this is my time! I must practice diligence here in safe-guarding this new found time. No friend dates, no TV, and not filling it with other things but reserving it every day, every week to honor my Creative Source and myself as an artist. I don't answer the phone, compute (surf or media) - I just sit in silence or listen to music alone and write. It's divine! This time has been created, so far, by managing time spent mindfully on the computer and in front of the TV. I reserve this time just as I reserve time for my Personal Yoga Practice. In fact, I consider it part of my Practice!
As I continue to clear space to fit more time for creative projects (painting, playing my guitar); I will continue to finesse things. I understand this won't happen overnight but rather with diligent practice I can change any habit; to think otherwise would be an act of sheer folly. Change comes with practice, as with learning new eating habits or practicing meditation, it's not done overnight. It didn't take me a week to get as systemically involved with virtual worlds but several years of cumulative time wasting and learning about the internet- about both it's perks and pitfalls.
How's your concentration? Your focus? Are you honoring your Creative Source? When is the last time you created something? Remember, creative time (as well as Practice time) is earned time, time you must put aside and reserve for yourself, time you must create in your daily/weekly schedule and honor. Pull out a pen and a journal or spare sheet of paper and answer these 3 questions:
Where is most of your free time going these days?
What would you rather spend that time doing?
What's one thing you can change today to begin to make that so?
.: return to your breath :.
^o^
Suz
