First, scare him away with Post-it notes. Keep them in the bathroom, near the desk and even in the car for when good ideas hit. Good ideas, sneaky little devils who like to play games, come to you when you are in the middle in potty training or rush hour traffic, times when free hands are a commodity. But you don't want them to escape. Better yet, use your smart phone, recording your ideas on it. I am sure WB can't outsmart it. Few of us can.
Do not stop working on your project. WB hates the sound of the keyboard clicking away, things being sorted, or anything that sounds like accomplishment. In fact, he will run away on his own cognizant if he hears those kinds of noises. When you quit trying, that's when he becomes fat, happy, and, worse yet, sassy.
WB especially does not like you stopping to clean out a drawer if no progress can be made on your main goal. He would rather you wander aimlessly through the house or play a mindless video game, rather than rewarding yourself accomplishing a little job.
When a writer or any worker starts doing something for someone else, instead of muttering and complaining, it always gets the kindness juices flowing. If there's anything WB hates, it's kindness juices. They are like pesticide. They will knock him out sooner than Raid on an ant.
There's one more thing he hates---chocolate. Any worker I know worth his or her salt or chocolate, in this case, always keeps a stash nearby for such occasions that WB might be lurking in the shadows. Don't stockpile beans or pasta, but a stock pile of chocolate will ward off WB's cousin, Discouragement. If inspired ideas are reinforced with chocolate, they begin a sweet assault like marshmallow soldiers. No scientific studies have proven this, but why take the chance when it comes to chocolate?
Lunch happens to be something else WB hates. This seems paradoxical, but if you are lunching with friends, it clears your brain to come home and hit the problem full blast once your return home, be it writer's block or that scary closet.
So the next time you get WB, remember all the weapons you have against him like your cell phone or your work ethic. Keep your kindness and chocolate lunch schedule poised and ready to leap. If you find you can't go to lunch, you might take chocolate tea to a neighbor. Your plan to make WB extinct might not work but, at least, you will have a delicious time finding out!
So here's my question for the week. What do you do to prevent Worker's Block from taking over your life and have fun, as well?
Stay tuned next week for "Lava in the Cake and Lava on the Mountain."
I think chocolate with nuts would take care of that monster on a long term basis.
ReplyDeleteA tasty idea indeed! That should eliminate the little monster rather quickly.
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