That is the question.
I've been having a raging internal debate about whether I should quit blogging. And not just blogging, but reading other people's blogs, and surfing new and interesting websites, and trying to keep up with news and the world in general.
I've already sworn off politics for awhile, due to overwhelm and post-election depression. But now I'm contemplating taking it a step further and reducing my web usage to the bare minimum. The thing is, I love it. I love blogging and reading other people's stuff, I love the conversations that go on, I love news and politics and activism, I love the vastness of the Web, I love learning new stuff. I'm an information junkie. But lately I'm feeling more and more overwhelmed. I looked at the calendar the other day and discovered I have less than two weeks till the end of the semester. And A LOT of writing to get done before then. I mean A LOT.
I am realizing that, no matter how many articles on time management I read or how well-organized I become, I can't do it all. I can't take a full graduate load and work 30 hours a week and write the Great American Novel and keep my house clean and exercise and eat right and have a social life and blog regularly and answer email and send Christmas cards and floss my teeth and clean the car and .... You get the picture. I know most of us are fighting similar battles on a daily basis. How parents do it all, I don't even know. I have reached a point where something's gotta give -- and I don't want it to be my job or my school or my health. I tell myself I don't have time to exercise, but the truth is, I am able to find an hour or two or more every day to spend on the computer. That's a problem.
So, much as I regret it, I think you'll be seeing less of me for a while. I'll still try to post the big news here and follow a few of my favorite blogs, but at least while I'm in grad school, I need to become more focused. This isn't goodbye -- just an advance apology for my flakiness. More importantly, it is a pact with myself. A pact to quit distracting myself from my dreams, and to start giving my goals the attention they're worth. Yay!
4 Comments:
Been there, done that, Patia. I know exactly what you mean.
I go through spells when I just can't seem to find anything I want to say, and yet I'll force myself to spend the time on the computer, mainly out of habit. I love blogging, and I really enjoy the relationships with other bloggers, so I know I don't want to give it up. Sometimes, though, I just need to break the habit, if for no other reason than to prove I still can.
Know that you'll be missed. Hell, I feel like I know your cats! Blog when you can.
Todd
Ditto what Todd said: You'll be missed.
But I totally know where you're at. I just found out my new place won't have DSL; I'll be back on dial-up. I'll have to break my severe internet addiction, methinks. But, on the positive side, I may actually get other things done now I won't have instant access to the blogsphere, like more serious writing, exercising, etc.
It's hard to fit everything into one life, isn't it?
I understand, Patia -- it's hard to find the right "balance" sometimes. But you know what? If blogging/surfing makes you happy, DON'T give it up -- just get an alarm clock (or timer, etc), and set it for, say, 30 minutes each day. When the alarm sounds, you walk away from the computer.
Hang in there!
Thanks, guys. I'm missing you all, too. But I am feeling a great sense of relief having giving myself permission not to do it all.
Todd -- you do know my kitties! :-#
Neva -- try 31 kbps. That's my dial-up speed. Ugh!
Dave -- I've tried the timer trick. It helps, a little.
Tango and Luna are fine; I am slogging through finals and holiday prep but otherwise fine. See you all around sooner or later!
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