Writers — Abolish the Tyranny of the Urgent
Tips on How To….
We each need to contend with the ‘too much’ and ‘too many’ of our world. Our notifications, emails, and texts are stacking up until we are frantic. Television and all of its offshoots like HGTV, Magnolia, and MANY others want to draw our attention away from what we WANT to be doing — such as WRITING. Text messages, phone messages, and other electronic transmissions are calling out for our attention.
Now there is something altogether new to try to capture our attention — amazing glasses that can take us to virtual reality (or unreality). Instead of picking up our phones every two minutes, will we be putting on our goggles/glasses to escape from the here and now?
To me, the Tyranny of the Urgent could be phones and goggles but it could also be a child needing your attention while you are trying to WRITE. Of course, the child must take first priority until their needs are met, but the phones and goggles can wait.
Our device-oriented society only points to the fact that interruptions are now a part of our culture. It used to be a knock at the door from a neighbor, now it is coming at us from all directions.
Here are some issues that WRITERS, especially, face and must resolve:
Your book publisher sets a deadline you KNOW cannot be met.
Remedy: YOU attempt to be in charge of the schedule because you know what your life looks like. For example, how can you meet that deadline if a surgical procedure needs to be done between now and then?
Self-imposed deadlines loom. You know the ones. No one requires it of you but you impose it upon yourself such as publishing every day on Medium for a full year.
Remedy: Stop and consider what you are doing to yourself. If something seems humanly impossible, maybe it is.
A publication’s editor on Medium posts a note on the latest piece you’d like to have published.
Remedy: YOU may need to edit your piece ASAP so it can be quickly published. Yet, don’t let those demands terrorize you as you try to edit what is asked of you. Maybe, if YOU are happy with what you wrote, publish it in your own publication without spending the time to change a thing.
Notifications are piling up.
Remedy: Take them in bite-sized chunks so you don’t feel under even more pressure when you see 200 of them all at once. Have you noticed that most don’t need any response?
Images are needed for your latest piece.
Remedy: Treat this challenge as an opportunity to have fun when an article is completed. Choose quickly yet carefully and save it in the file with your article.
Read-to-read participation.
Remedy: I find that I’m busy enough just reading pieces and authors to where I am subscribed. Adding more and more is NOT wise time management but is tyranny.
Sometimes we just want to run screaming into a quiet space where you can THINK and CREATE.
Think about it: WE are in control of our lives, aren’t we?
It only takes a part of a second to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider — is this an interruption that can wait or am I going to bow to the Tyranny of the Urgent?
We Have Two Choices
Eliminate the Interruption
Don’t answer the door, don’t answer your phone, don’t text. You can get back to them…or not. Just WRITE!
Control the Interruption
Put a peephole in your door and refuse to answer it unless you know who is coming to visit and have the time. Put your device on mute until after you have accomplished what you need to do that day, that minute. Let your answering machine do the answering for you until you are ready to call them back…or not. If a child continually interrupts you, find a diversion for them until you have completed your task. Sometimes their own little desk where they can write and answer their phone or a snack may help.
You are in control of your life, not devices or other people.
We must keep our lives as streamlined as possible because it is a busy world. Your time and energy are of utmost importance and need to be guarded. Living prayerfully is the key.
“Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
II Chronicles 20:15b
Now you can WRITE!
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Published, enjoyed while learning a lot by Annelise Lords
