What I Do To Avoid Writing

We have all been there: the clock is ticking and the deadlines are making a familiar whooshing sound as they go by, and you still cannot bring yourself to start writing. The reason for this might be perfectionism, requirements of your day job (in my case, teaching), or simply because Internet is a magical place where time passes really fast and before you know it, you realize you have spent the last hour watching pugs dressed as Stranger Things characters. Since I am fairly new to the blogging world, I will use this post to briefly introduce myself by writing about my favorite ways to waste my writing time.

1. Reading

This one is pretty obvious. It is true that all writers should read as much as they can. But sometimes, when we come across a book which seems unputdownable, our writing time becomes our reading time. I am so guilty of this. When I get hold of a shiny new book, I cannot seem to concentrate on my own writing. It is almost as if i cannot focus on my own characters when I am so caught up in the lives of the characters in the book I am currently reading. Crazy, I know.

2. Watching Doctor Who

If there is one thing you should know about me, besides that I write fiction, it is that I am utterly obsessed with Doctor Who. It is the one show that I have watched for as long as I can remember. My key chain is a Tardis. My ringtone is the sound of Tardis taking off. One of my favorite possessions is the Sonic Screwdriver. (Any fellow Whovians here? Which is your favorite Doctor/Companion? Mine are Ten and Amy, and it is my greatest regret that they never did an episode together.). I should probably stop fangirling right now. My family and friends told me that I tend to become a bit too excited when talking about the Doctor.

3. Running/Exercising

I am a long distance runner, currently training for a half marathon which is due in two months. I have done some sort of exercise my whole life. Besides running, I do pilates, yoga, tae bo and zumba. I used to do strength training at the gym, but right now my routine consists mostly of body weight exercises that can be done at home. Exercise helps me recharge and get rid of daily stress. After a training session, I feel relaxed and energized. Besides, when suffering from a writer’s block, an additional boost of oxygen and feel-good hormones, which are released during physical activities, may be beneficial to my writing.

4. Cooking

Cooking is one of my passions. I like experimenting with recipes from all around the world. I prefer making tasty, but also healthy meals, rich with all the nutrients my body needs to replenish my energy. Since I do a lot of physical activity, I need healthy food to give me the additional boost in my performance. I am firmly against going all Bukowski style and prefer Murakami’s way of life instead. His dedication to health and fitness goals is rare among writers and is something I truly respect and can only aspire to.

5. Planning Trips

I have caught a Wanderlust bug. Since I am currently living in Croatia, where I was born, trips take a lot of planning because the traffic here is terrible. When I was living in Germany (for six months), I was amazed at how easy it was to travel everywhere. I have visited almost all major capitals in Europe, and I am really looking forward to expanding my list. So far, my favorite cities are Dublin and Belfast.

Which are your favorite ways to waste writing time?