V.com weekend vote: What is your favorite way to procrastinate?

February 27, 2009 at 11:23 PM

Don't get me wrong, I love practicing. But sometimes I have difficulty....getting started!

There are just too many distractions in this hyped-up, hopped-up, information-packed world, and I have always inclined toward procrastination. In fact, for some of us, it's an art. Do you ever procrastinate? When you are not doing what you are supposed to be doing, what are you doing?

 

Reading!  Books, magazines, and internet.

Also, Spider Solitare.  (Shakes fist at Bill Gates).

Not that I ever, ever procrastinate...

Lately,  I've had to study and write papers as I've gone back to college after 30 years of teaching and being a homemaker.   I still love to practice, but everything else is demanding my time.

There is hope for you youngsters. One day you will find a project that you cannot wait to roll back your sleaves and jump in. For me, this is it. When the light comes into my east room, I forget about exercise, coffee, Facebook or anything else and I dive into my practice. I don't have to do this, I just want to. I want to see how far I can go  before something stiffens up or breaks down.  I guess that is why I cast my vote for the last option---some day you will honestly be able to remove "procrastination" from your vocabulary too.

I read blogs about procrastinating. I also read books and watch shows about getting organized and being efficient while barely holding chaos at bay every day of my life.

I tend to switch to other pieces.  There are only so many hours in the day that you can play the same piece over, and over, and over, and over again....

I sew silly, wacky or absolutely gorgeous stuff that is quick to finish. It's procrastination with great instant gratification.Completely opposite to violin work, my sewing is easy, not detail oriented and as wacky as it can be. It makes me feel productive and appreciated. Cooking does the similar thing without the lasting effect sewing has.

I said talking on the phone mostly because my mother has this sixth sense that tells her to call when I'm in a practice room...  I also use knitting and even homework as a method of procrastination.

I found it hard to choose between writing emails and arguing with people on violinist.com.  Sometimes those overlap, but I try not to argue too much. 

Blogging is another one.  Sometimes it's more fun to write about practicing than actually do it.  And then I can justify it by saying, "it helped me analyze a problem I was having and made the next practice session more productive!"

I play this word game on facebook, called Prolific.  E. Smith got me started on it.  Don't ever play it, or you will never return.

Catching up with the procrastination I didn't finish yesterday.

I shop for violins I don't need and shouldn't want on eBay.

I play violin! Yes I should always be studying my sciences but have to play violin a little and change my mind! I actually take a five minutes every two hours to go a little on the net (here!) or just lie down on my books and close my eyes (this one is very looser, I know, but my head will burst without these 5 min!) lol

I do not have a cell phone (and don't want because I would lose too much time), am not on face book (but often here!). Eat only at meals. Shopping centers are quite far! Hurray!  I feel less guilty when I think of this!

Anne-Marie

ps: violinists are naturally curious especially when not on violin! Can't help it!

My preferred method of procrastination is cruising around the Internet.  This includes v.com and other sites.  I shy away from arguments on v.com and all the other places I visit.

My new addiction is Facebook. When I practice I have to turn my computer and phone off, because I get texts from Facebook on my Iphone and it's so hard not to go and read it immediately which breaks up my practice time.

Read, surf Violinist.com, cook. And plenty of outdoor stuff! There's target shooting at the rifle range, Drive through the mountains, hike, roll down hills, collect wild flowers and press them, amature prospecting either panning or metal detecter, swimming, fishing, taking a stroll, art museum, and the violin....... procrastinating.... I think it's my real career! {;^)

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