Ever feel as if every social media icon is part of a tumultuous cyclonic wind swirling around your mind? My guess is you’re not alone.
From personal experience, I can say that if this overwhelming icon effect is attacking you, I am right there with you.
These colorful, socially engaging images are great distractions in the middle of a day when you want to write. Despite their almost one-dimensional existence, they have the ability to speak your name, tempt you to come along, and then poof! — the day is over.
Why are these colorful distractions a problem for us?
It’s all about time. Managing your time. Time is important and should be guarded carefully. And each of these media takes time away from other endeavors.
As writers we are encouraged to build platforms, find “tribes,” and participate on social media.
That’s all well and good but how can one manage all these media outlets and find time for writing?
In the recent past, I’ve read several blog posts on this topic of social media and distraction. What I sat down to write has already been written and in a better way than I ever could.
Today I want to share with you two posts written by Kathy Pooler of Memoir Writer’s Journey. In the first post, Kathy writes about the catalyst behind her words. And she lets us into her private writer world when she says: “Social media has become a major distraction in my life and in my writing.”
In spite of what Kathy had learned in a workshop about building her writer platform and why she needs that platform, Kathy shares that her goal is for a plan that looks toward “minimizingdaily social media distractions while maximizing the benefits.” In a follow-on post, “Lights, Camera, Action: ‘Operation Focus’,” Kathy shares just what that plan is and how she hopes it will work for her.
In her posts, Kathy includes links to several writers who share their own ideas on time management and social media.
Kathy’s posts speak to my immediate needs. Ayear ago, when I first read them, we had just learned of a medical crisis in our family, and to attempt something new was not in my plans. Now, it is time.
Stay tuned for Thursday’s post which will bring you a look at another writer’s thoughts on time management. This time from someone who is still working outside the home.
Sherrey,Thanks so much for the mentions and links. There are so many tools available- I think because time management is such a huge challenge. Tools such as Rescue Time have helped me stay aware of how i am using my time but time management is truly a day-to-day challenge that requires discipline and focus on priorities. It’s nice you are doing a series on this as we can all learn from one another. OK, now I have to get off social media and focus on writing!
Kathy, thanks for your input. I’m glad this topic isn’t outdated and I’m certain it never will be. We seem to always be looking for a better way to manage our lives and time. I’ve taken a look at Rescue Time and it looks very helpful. I told Bob tonight I’m sitting down and charting everything that I want to do, need to do, and have committed to, and them I’m prioritizing and determining what I could let go of for a while or maybe forever. I think it should be a healthy and helpful exercise.
I struggle with this and shall take a look at Rescue Time. I just attended a TEDx conference and apparently this whole “connection” concept is the future for business and is global, and the new way. I need time management desperately, as well as organization of my files, both online and paper.
Sonia, appreciate your taking time to read and comment. Kathy uses Rescue Time, I believe, with success. Since posting this I’ve come across a very simple approach from Jane Friedman’s blog Writer Unboxed. See the link http://writerunboxed.com/2011/04/22/3-ways-to-add-meaningful-structure-to-your-writing-life/. I would have to agree that the “connection” concept is moving toward a more global one. It was reassuring to hear that someone else needs time management desperately. 🙂
Hi Sherrey… I entirley agree with these posts about time management of social media.
I put 70% of available work time into writing, and 30% into social media, and even then I keep it narrowly focused on just a few channels. While it’s important to make sure our books are visible so people buy them, in the end it’s the writing that does the sales job.
PS. Thanks for your comment on my blog post – it mirrors what you say.
http://bestsellerlabs.com/social-media-train-wreck-that-authors-must-avoid/
I made a typo: It should be spelled … ‘entirely’.
Had to giggle at your editorial reply re your mispelling! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and sharing thoughts on time management especially with social media. I have a friend whose husband told her the amount of time she spent on Facebook was because “she was afraid she’d miss something.” I think this is true of so many people, myself included. I’m on a training program that once the time set aside for social media is up, it’s up whether I’ve seen everything posted that day or not.
With respect to reading blog posts, do you include this in your 30% time allocation as well? I always feel that I’m behind on reading the posts of folks I really respect and admire.
For the longest time I’ve been buying into the so-called common wisdom of expanding my networks, so I’ve been following the herd – only to end up feeling like a sheep. These days, my instinct is to rather contract, to focus on the platforms where I’m confident of making an important contribution and generating a meaningful following.
Baa, baa! I’ve felt like a sheep for quite some time. You may have noticed the last couple of weeks there’ve been several blog posts circulating on this topic of networks, social media, platforms, etc. I’ve been rethinking a lot of things (as you may gather) about time, space, writing conditions, etc. I want my writing and blogging to be well done and meet my reader with something beneficial while at the same time not connecting everywhere to find myself a noncontributing part of the group. Will I ever get this down to a science?
Yes, you will; I often feel like I am ‘behind the curve,’ but I believe there’ll always be leaders AND followers and sooner or later followers become leaders too – you’ll know it when you hit that sweet spot, whether it is on a certain platform, with your blog, or your book itself.
Thanks for the encouragement!
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