I’m in the midst of penning my book—twelve chapters completed, twelve more to go. My deadline looms ahead: just two weeks. While I’m not exactly a math whiz, I can tell that this isn’t an ideal situation. Perhaps my writing approach is to blame. Here’s how it usually unfolds…
First, I walk the dog, prepare lunches, pack the kids’ bags, dress them, drive them to school, and then return home. I finally sit down at my computer and manage to write a single sentence.
Just then, an email notification pops up. I know I should ignore it, but what if it’s something urgent? I can’t just leave it unchecked. Upon opening it, I find a Groupon—definitely not essential but certainly time-sensitive. After a brief debate, I conclude that saving thirteen bucks on a restaurant I’ve never considered is worth it.
So, I purchase the Groupon, and while I wait for my credit card to go through, I nervously tap my nails on the keyboard. Oh great, I crack a nail. Fantastic.
I head upstairs to grab a nail file and chance upon a towel lying on the floor. That towel reminds me that I have laundry waiting in the machine that needs to be moved to the dryer. After transferring the clothes, I empty the lint tray and take the lint to the bathroom to dispose of it. I glance in the mirror and think, when did my eyebrows look like that? Time for a quick pluck.
As I study my reflection, I ponder: is that really what I look like? Note to self: invest in some wrinkle cream, ASAP. But wait, wrinkle cream isn’t cheap. I need to earn some cash—ah yes, the book! I need to write to make that money.
I head back downstairs, only to realize my earlier sentence doesn’t seem so brilliant anymore. I delete it and try again. And again. Look at me go! I’m on a roll now.
Suddenly, I notice a noise—my stomach growling. I’m starving and can’t focus. What should I eat? Perhaps I’ll check Twitter for some lunch ideas; I haven’t logged on all day.
I dive into Twitter, only to find myself lost in the feed for fifteen minutes. My head begins to throb. I need food. I whip up a turkey sandwich, only to discover I’ve used the last slice of bread.
How is it possible that I need more bread already? I jot a reminder to stop by the store later to pick up groceries for the kids. Checking the fridge and pantry reveals we’re running low on quite a few essentials. I rewrite my shopping list on a larger piece of paper: bread, milk, paper towels, laundry detergent, and Cheerios.
My stomach growls once more. I’ll need a drink with my lunch. I open a soda can and notice the recycling bin is overflowing. Off I go to take out the recycling. While doing that, I spot the plants wilting and take a moment to water them, reflecting on why I thought having plants was a good idea as a mom of three.
Finally, I settle back down at my computer with my soda and sandwich. I realize it’s been five days since my last blog post. Time to write something! But I draw a blank.
I toggle between the chapter I’m working on and various social media platforms, making no progress. I glance at the clock and realize I need to leave to pick up the kids—I’ve missed my chance to run errands. How did that happen? Now I have no completed chapter, no blog post, and still no groceries.
I vow to be more productive tomorrow.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Lord, help me.
This article was originally published on September 28, 2011.
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In summary, juggling writing and motherhood is a challenging endeavor filled with distractions and interruptions. From unexpected emails to household tasks, it’s easy to get sidetracked. However, with determination and a bit of humor, it’s possible to navigate the chaos and find time for creativity.