Tag Archives: concentration

Open Tabs

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I slept late this morning and then luxuriated in bed, cleaning up the open internet tabs on my phone.

I rarely think to bookmark things and simply leave them open for “later” – whenever that is. Scrolling my open tabs is quite the archeological dig through my own brain and strange interests.

There are state parks to visit and quirky restaurants in places I might visit someday. There are things I have looked up and intended to tell you about like a ghost mural from last September’s trip to Philadelphia.

There are a bunch of stories and websites about slow living while working full time, about analog living, and about how winds of political change are impacting mental health and human compassion. There are websites devoted to writing prompts that sound great but that I haven’t used yet.

There are recipes and nutrition plans, stuff about knee pain, and sleeping better. Material for a book that I’m attempting to get off the ground and stories about how slavery nearly was ended in 1846 mingle with music videos and blogs about celebrating our accents rather than trying to neutralize our regional dialects. There are ideas for a monthly work project and an eBay listing for a 1940s Admiral radio that I like but don’t need to buy.

There are LOTS of recipes that need to either be printed or copied onto recipe cards

I started out with 240 open tabs this morning and have it whittled down to 150. Probably 25 of those are recipes that I may try to deal with today. One is a vegetarian gravy that I have made several times and enjoy. It deserves a spot in the recipe box. The Mexican Alphabet Soup recipe I evidently found last winter looks like it deserves a try!

Are these open tabs hurting anything? Probably not. It also wouldn’t hurt to have a better way of organizing them either.

As I scrolled through this mess on my phone it made me marvel at how my mind works and made me wonder how many “tabs” are open in my actual brain. It’s no wonder I can’t focus on anything with all the diverse interests, ongoing projects and streams of thought that run in so many different directions.

Wonder if there’s a website to help organize it all in my mind. Maybe I’ll go look……

Have a good Saturday, friends!

Finding Better Writing Conditions

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Mystery writer William Kent Krueger advises an aspiring writer to write every day. At least, this is the advice he gave to this aspiring writer as I held up the line at his book signing in Charleston, West Virginia last fall. Up until that day, I had trouble even calling myself a writer but I took his advice to heart and set about to follow it.

He said he writes first thing in the morning, every morning, no matter what. He protects that time.  He guards it as though it’s the most important part of his day because it is. When I tried that, it required me getting up at 5 a.m. so I would have time before work. 

Let me tell you something: I’m not very smart that early in the day.

I kept up that pace for about a month before deciding I needed to retool my approach. Spoiler alert. That never happened. Now, I mostly write at night when I ought to be winding down for the day. It’s rarely on special projects and usually just for this blog. 

Clearly, the world hasn’t missed out on my completion of the Great American Novel but I’m certainly not going to get there if left to my own devices. 

Most writers are masters of distraction and I know this to be true of myself. Recreational writing at home is hard because there is a ton of stuff to take my hand and lead me away from my intentions. Dishes need washed, trash needs taken and there’s a fine layer of dust on the dining room table that has peacefully existed for weeks but now requires immediate attention. The cat looks lonely. Maybe he would like to be picked up. No? I put him down and go find a bandaid because now my hand is bleeding. 

All true stories. None are exaggerated. As for the cat scratch, it happens more often than I should admit. And as Scout likes to say, he wouldn’t have to scratch me if I weren’t going around asking for it.

I recently spent some time in a waiting room and got to write recreational projects for about ninety minutes. Then I went to a public library for a little more. I put my watch and phone in my bag. The computer I use for writing is only for writing. I can’t access social media from here and have to actually remember and type in my email password. In other words, the only distractions were a handful of people coming and going as they browsed the stacks. There were other people working at tables around me but we all were quietly minding our own business.

This quiet combined with the gentle hum of an air conditioner and lovely view of nature, allowed me to sit still and concentrate long enough to string together a cohesive series of sentences into paragraphs that actually make sense. It was a gratifying, reassuring, inspiring and delightfully encouraging experience. It’s wonderful to know that I’m capable of doing more than I normally manage.

How does a gal replicate this atmosphere at home?

I really must find out!

The Art Of Reading

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Not everyone is a natural born reader. You know something? That’s ok.

But I know people struggle to read for a variety of reasons and want to offer some tips from my own experience.

It seems that I was born with a book in my hand. Reading is an escape, it’s entertaining, and it’s an amazing way to learn about anything under the sun. However, reading is something that I sometimes struggle with too.

It’s usually because I can’t quiet my mind or sometimes because I’m too tired to focus. I literally have lived years of my life traveling too much and unable to focus on a book. Any book.

Sometimes it’s because what I’m attempting to read doesn’t interest me or because I hate a character.

Back in January, I set out to read more books in 2020. Little did I know that the lofty goal of reading 100 books this year would become a vital part of staying sane during months of pandemic and seclusion.

Anyway, earlier this year, I listened to a podcast on reading and reviewed a few articles to develop strategies that would help me read more and better. Here are a some that helped.

Know That It Takes Effort. We live in a busy world that is brimming with distractions. You have to make an effort to turn off the tv, set aside your work, stop worrying about the bills, and focus on the words in front of you. This is super hard when there are so many distractions competing for your mental energy.

Respect Limitations. Reading is not the easiest thing to do for most people but it’s a thousand times harder if you have vision problems, trouble concentrating, dyslexia or some other learning disability. I’m not a doctor but would recommend seeking help with these issues regardless of your age.

Make Books Accessible. Some experts recommend reading multiple books at one time. The theory usually is that you should have a book at your fingertips wherever you go. The podcast that I listened to recommended having a book in the car, one in the living room, one on your nightstand, one at work for lunch time…. you get the gist. I have done this and have found it counterproductive because it takes forever to finish anything and it’s hard to stay engaged with a book when you’re reading just a few pages a day. I tend to read one book at a time and carry it everywhere I go. It’s much easier to become immersed in the action, remember characters and to feel some ownership of what you’re reading.

Play Mind Games. If you’re just getting started and feel intimidated, there are some things to remember. One is that you don’t have to read a 200 page book today. The other is that you can set mini goals for yourself. When you start a chapter, look at its length. If it’s ten pages tell yourself you are just going to read a chapter. If it’s fifty pages, say you’re just going to read the first ten.

If you’re struggling to focus, it is mentally healthy to have some goals. You can look at why your phone dinged after you reach your goal. You may find that you forget your phone even dinged and keep going.

Read What Interests You. I have a friend who only reads mysteries. I know others who focus on bestsellers like John Grisham. Some people like the classics or biographies or books about cars. Reading a book will do you no good if it doesn’t engage you in some meaningful way. I’m fortunate to enjoy many different genres. My reading list includes almost everything under the sun but it’s ok to focus on one thing.

Just remember, you don’t have to read Moby Dock to call yourself a reader. You just have to read.

Take A Break. If I read a book that’s challenging or that’s emotionally trying, I tend to follow up with something light. It’s like a palate cleanser for the mind!

Make It Part Of Your Routine. Personally, I like to go to bed early with a book. It’s a nice way to wind down after a long day and this is just part of my daily ritual. I read at other times as well but bedtime reading is my favorite. Maybe you would prefer starting your day with coffee and a book. Maybe you sneak in a chapter in your car at lunchtime. Just find a time each day that is reserved for reading, even if for just a little while.

Slow Down. Reading is not a competitive sport. Slow down and enjoy the story. Sometimes if I’m struggling to focus, I read aloud to my cat. Yes. You read that correctly. I read to Scout and he seems to enjoy it. Your eye can’t skip around if you’re saying the words out loud.

I know readers who shame people for what they read. Please don’t let others be a jerk about your book choices and in return, don’t do that to someone else. It’s not cool.

Sometimes I’m hesitant to give you my monthly book reviews because I hate people who brag about their reading. I have been giving my short reviews hoping to inspire others to read and to support authors and bookstores through buying or libraries through borrowing.

Hopefully you’ll find something in my mixed up reading list that sounds interesting and will encourage you to try reading for entertainment and learning!

Do you have tips for reading more or questions on this topic? I would love to hear from you!