Task avoidance

     I'm supposed to be doing something other than this; that is, I am allowing myself to be distracted from the real task in hand which is typing up the minutes of a meeting. So far this morning I have visited a few favourite blogs, had a cup of coffee, played several games of solitaire and read the latest episode of Corduroy Mansions, all displacement activities - I own up! I have made a start on the minutes, doing the preliminary, formulaic bit, but now I'm on to the meaty stuff and having to decipher several A4 pages of my handwritten notes in order to produce a document dense with fact and stylish yet economical in its prose. Because I'd much rather be doing something else I'm having to force myself to get on with it, but doing so on a 'reward' basis - another paragraph or section done earns me a few minutes off to do something more fun. I've just had a browse around for some music to keep me 'on task', and how about that for an excuse for slacking. So far I've had a little dalliance with this favourite, a change of mood with this one, or I could listen to numerous repeats of this, (and for complete silliness there's always this - blame my children). If all that doesn't work I'm going to remember I have a pressing engagement with the ironing board (sorry, the pun wasn't intended!) which will give me a legitimate reason to leave the minutes for a minute.
Back later, I hope, with a proper post, (though at the rate I'm going today I wouldn't hold your breath).

Comments

[sherry]

Karen, I could give you a long list of the things I should be doing right now, but it would bore both of us!

[Becca]

Task avoidance is one of the best things I can think of to do. When I was still writing essays I would spend a long time making a music playlist before even contemplating work!

[Cheryl]

Throw my name into the hat for avoiding what I should be doing for what I want to do. Righto, I readily admit defeat and am going to hie myself off to the LYS for a bit of fibrely diversion. It is Friday after all...!

[Peter the Flautist]

Task avoidance should either be real (i.e. you actually CAN avoid the task by prevarication or delay) or else it is really just ennervating. It did of course take me some years as an academic physicist to realise this, and to my dismay I think that in the first 7 years of life as a Lecturer I wasted about 2 in total. That estimate so appalled me that I have ever since tried to do better. Of course the temptation is still strong ...

Dark Puss

[Nan]

Delightful post.

[charlotte]

I just avoided many tasks by watching You Tube and that flippin banana phone for half and hour! Have you seen the owl song? Owls and Simon Cowell - too surreal.

[probablyjane]

Thanks for reminding me how muchI like the theme from Midnight Cowboy