Let’s face it. We all have times that we just don’t feel motivated to do the things that we know have to eventually get done. Since my early days in elementary school I have always been quite skilled at putting things off until the last minute, then swooping in and completing them just in time for the deadline with the greatest of ease (and a little stress, sometimes.) As I grew older I honed this skill to a perfect science and actually found ways to thrive in the rush of last-minute madness.

But as a freelancer this methodology can be fatal. You never know when new projects might arise, or an “emergency” moves up a deadline and suddenly, if not prepared, you find yourself without enough hours in the remaining day to complete that which is required of you. So I have learned to do my best to always stay ahead as much as possible.

Unfortunately for a dethroned king of procrastination, striving to stay ahead of schedule is all the more difficult since it goes against the very nature of this beast. And since I spend the majority of my waking hours sitting in front of a computer, distraction and procrastination are just a click away. Thanks to modern technology and the endless expanse of the internet (paired with my constantly increasing geek side) there are boundless opportunities for putting aside the things that I must do in order to explore the things I choose to do instead.

Stepping away from work – especially for those of us whose work day is not confined to the 9-5 hours – is a good thing, and can often be the birth of new motivation and inspiration. But it can also be a black hole of time-sucking doom when not handled with care and proper feeding.

So in an effort to encourage us all toward productive procrastination (instead of its evil twin) I have put together a few of my favorite workday disruptions and given ways to push them from diversion into the realm of inspiration. Hopefully they will give you some new, guilt-free ways to take a break from all that work so you can return with a fresh outlook, ready to roll again!

TWITTER (and other social media)

Of course, those of you who know anything about me probably already assumed that my newest addiction would be first up. My use and connection to Twitter is a constant. In fact, I went out and bought a 2^nd monitor solely for the purpose of keeping Tweetdeck (a 3^rd party Twitter client) open and running at all times. A quick glance over to my left and I can get sucked right into a conversation or clicking on a link someone has shared, which then opens another browser window and could possibly be a tutorial or something that I want to try out, which then could lead into countless other pathways of time lost.

What can I say? I am hooked, and I am not apologizing for it. Twitter has helped me grow my freelance business in ways no other single tool has. But yes, it has its evil downside too, as described above. Finding the balance between the two is an ongoing battle, but I still believe it is worth it.

How Twitter Procrastination Can Be Turned Into Inspiration:

»   Every link, blog post, and article that someone shares and I am interested in, I will click on it, skim it and bookmark it for later if I deem it worth keeping. While working hard not to spend inordinate amounts of time doing this, I often find fantastic resources and information, and even occasionally something that pertains to the very project I am working (or not working) on at the moment. I also get ideas for blog posts (like this one).

»   If I’m stuck on something, I will tweet a request for help. Something like, “Anyone else have this situation? If so, how did you deal with it?” 9 times out of 10 the response is helpful and informative, not to mention I get a chance to connect with someone.

»   Since most of my day is spent alone in front of the computer, taking a moment to chat with other real people on Twitter can be refreshing and rejuvenating. It has also created connections that have led to great things down the road.

Most of my social media time is spent on Twitter, as opposed to other social networks, but I believe the same principles can be applied to Facebook or whatever else you are more comfortable with being distracted by. I know my wife – an avid Facebook user – has found numerous new bands, interesting connections locally and globally, and valuable resources amongst her Facebook friends. Of course, she also falls prey to the “evil” time-sucking quizzes and games that make portions of her day disappear. But you get the point. Use social media as a momentary distraction, but don’t let it take control of your time or what you get from it.

READING (online and offline)

I read so many articles, design blogs, tutorials and more online that I’m not sure how I get anything else done! I love learning and consider myself a lifelong student, so I cannot get enough of all that is out there to assist me in my pursuit of becoming a better person, father, husband, designer, freelancer, friend and so on. The online education possibilities are endless! So I often find myself wandering through different things I’ve bookmarked when I am no longer feeling any motivation for the task at hand. This is a double-edged sword because it’s almost always valuable information, but the amount of time it can take away from the day is dangerous.

I also love to read books. I don’t nearly read as much as I used to before I went to full-time freelancing, but they are always a great escape from the computer and technology. The only real downside is time that is lost, but I am the type of reader that finds it hard to put the book down. I am in training (over the past couple years) learning how to read in spurts, which would be more productive, but it’s a difficult road for me.

How Reading Procrastination Can Be Turned Into Inspiration:

»   Streamlining the subject matter of online reading into relevant topics can make it a very productive and promising use of time. Bookmarking (I use Delicious) for later those articles that have nothing to do with what you’re working on, and reading through those that may help you get your current projects done will often guide you back on the horse inspired and ready.

»   Fiction reading can often be one of the best inspirations of all because it can be an escape while simultaneously providing artistic inspiration (depending on the subject matter and quality.) Choosing to read books that challenge your thinking and inspire your creativity can make this one of the most productive diversions of all.

»   Non-fiction reading can work very much like the online and fiction reading combined, and I would suggest reading topics that are of other interests than what you spend your workday doing. Stretching your mind beyond those things that you already enjoy always strengthens your existing passions and skills. Utilize your local library and your imagination to explore previously uncharted territories for yourself.

MUSIC (online and offline)

I used to make a living as a musician, and while I no longer spend much time creating and composing, it is still a passion of mine – in many ways the one thing I am most passionate about. I love to listen to music of almost all kinds (except most country music – sorry if you’re a fan) and I thoroughly enjoy discovering new-to-me artists and songs. This can end up being a huge time sucker as I look online for the latest or wander through YouTube videos or troll my Last.fm friends’ music libraries. I can end up losing portions of the day just trying to find some music to play as inspiration while I work!

Another way music helps me escape from deadlines is when I can sit at the piano and just play whatever comes to mind. Again, I seldom make time to do this anymore, but it can be a refreshing break from the doldrums when I do. It can also end up becoming a wandering stroll down a path of composing a new chord progression that falls from my fingertips as if by accident. On occasion I have lost an hour here and there to the ivories and their magnetic pull.

How Music Procrastination Can Be Turned Into Inspiration:

»   Last.fm, when used properly, has been a valuable tool for me. It allows me to pick 3 artists to create a “station” that plays nonstop songs in those 3 artists’ respective genres. The whole process takes just a minute or two to set up and I’ve got music for hours before I want a change. The danger, of course, is in wandering around the site’s suggested artists or my friends’ libraries instead of just doing what I cam there for, so keep that in mind before opening that browser window. Of course, you can use other music services to do similar functions (Pandora, Blip.fm, etc.)

»   If you play an instrument, please don’t stop. If music is in your soul, I say unleash it. It’s one of my deepest regrets that I no longer give this passion of mine the attention and time I want to give, so if you have the ability to use composing or playing music as a distraction, please go for it! Is there truly anything more inspiring than music anyway? I think there is much more benefit to how music inspires us than there is negative connotations for the time lost in the pursuit of it.

OTHER FAVORITES

I am becoming more and more of a computer and technology geek. This opens up all kinds of doors for diversion. Between finding apps and games for my new Android phone, searching for browser add-ons to improve my experience, trying various computer performance tweaks, wandering through the latest applications and open source toys, and all the other treasures that can be found, I could make it through entire weeks without getting any actual work done if I choose. I guess for these and any other distractions I fall prey to the first step is admitting I have a problem. Identifying and admitting to the time-suckers in your daily routine should at least help you to begin finding ways to either use them to your advantage and inspiration or else determine to eliminate them altogether. Either way, I encourage you to allow for procrastination to an extent, because all work and no play will definitely make you miserable. But learn to be the one in control of your diversions and make them work for you, rather than allow them to take over your schedule and eventually create problems.

What are some of your favorite procrastinations? Do you turn them into inspirations, and if so, how? Please share with us in the comments below so we can all learn how to be in better control of our work and our play. After all, who wants a bunch of dull, unhappy workaholics hanging around?

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