I’ve recently been rereading a few of my favorite mysteries by the author Rex Stout. Sometimes it’s very comforting to spend some time with old friends like Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin.
And one of the most comforting things about the novels is the characters’ cherished habits. Nero Wolfe, that mountain of a man and genius consulting detective, has a strict schedule to his day. Interrupt it at your peril. In visiting with them for a while, I begin to think that many of us could benefit from a few strongly held habits ourselves.
In particular, I think a real schedule, by the clock, where we push the distractions of the online world away, if only for bit, and let ourselves focus on the physical world would be a big boost to our productivity. I know it is to mine. And a fast from the media and distractions that are all around us should be a part of every day.
It doesn’t have to be long, even a few minutes or an hour. It could be long enough for you to clear your head and let focus and calm settle back in. My early morning times to write are extremely productive. When I finish them, I’m completely energized and ready to tackle new tasks. When I break my schedule and habits, I feel out of sorts and find it difficult to get moving on tasks. I understand why Wolfe can be so peevish when the phone rings or an unexpected visitor wants to be seen during a meal or outside his office hours.
Why not try for one day a week for your fast? You might just start with three or four hours, once a week. You might devote Saturday afternoon to birdhouse building or Sunday morning to nature hikes. Or get advanced and devote two hours in the morning and two in the late afternoon to tending your orchards. During those periods, let your mind rest and recover from the adrenaline-soaked online media. If you want to achieve real guru status, include TV, radio, and music in these media fasts.
When you break your fast, you’ll find yourself rested and energized, ready to tackle difficult problems and bring new insight to your work.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Randy,
Beautiful and well said. Great advice especially for those of us in love with the pixel.
shalom,
Steven
{ 2 trackbacks }