Especially since retiring and having more time with less structure, I have found it hard to focus. It seemed at first as if the fragmented "monkey mind" described by the Buddha would never learn to sit in one place and finish a project it had begun. I have made progress, and am pleased to say so. Especially as I have moved into writing as a retirement hobby, I enjoy spending long hours buried in thoughts and words, weaving them into pictures and sharing them with you.
On the other hand, there is always another hand. Intense concentration eventually gets tedious, and the time comes when I want a break. With a recent focus on healthy eating, I notice how often that break involves Pooh's "little something" to eat or drink. No, not a stalk of broccoli or a glass of water, but something with more calories and less value. Like popcorn or beer.
I am, with this renewed awareness, looking for alternatives to punctuate the day. This morning I pulled out some colored pens and the blank-book journal I use for creative musing. Half an hour later, a page was decorated with five-to-fifteen minute alternatives to another boring snack:
- YouTube vlogbrothers episode
- Treadmill walk, lively music
- Silent reflection, deep breathing
- One page from "thought for the day" book
- YouTube Simon's cat episode
- Knitting (prayer shawl in progress)
- New station on Pandora
- Catnap (nap with the cat)
- One small household chore
- Thank-you, get well, or sympathy note
Focus continues to challenge me, and maybe it challenges you. In the past, I have interrupted hours of random miscellaneous activity with shots of sustained effort. As I have shifted the ratio and learned to spend more time on one project, I still find the need for breaks to stay fresh. Those have often been snacks that were neither satisfying nor health-promoting. Today I am experimenting with different ways to stop, shift focus, re-charge my energy, and clear my mind.
What about you? Can you come up with ten creative ideas for breaking up your day when threatened by burnout or boredom?
