By Barbara Neal Varma //
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Which is exactly how I like it during my writing cave time. Quiet and peaceful, the only thing stirred being my cup of tea.
Sometimes achieving such heavenly peace is quite the trick. When I retired last year, I was determined to set a workable writing schedule for myself. One with consistent start and stop times yet flexible enough to take time off when I wanted.
I’m sure more than a few friends thought I was crazy. Why spoil a perfectly good retirement with having to punch a timecard, even if only metaphorically? Agree, but I’d retired in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, and needed a steady routine to keep calm and write on.
Alas, despite my best efforts my writing routine grew to be what my cousin with a 2-year-old would call a real wiggler. Ever changing, often off-course, and easily distracted.
Oh, I’d start out well enough. Ah, another day, another opportunity to write!
But then: Ooh, Facebook, shiny.
Two strategies, however, have saved me from going full tilt.
First, as I’ve mentioned before, I get an early start; 6:30 a.m., assuming I don’t sleep in after binge-watching Netflix the night before.
Second, and perhaps most important: I go off the grid. As in disabling emails and social media, and turning off my phone—and not just in sleep or Do Not Disturb mode, my friends. I’m talking power down. Disconnect. Phone dark. “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Like that.
Drastic, maybe, but it’s been my experience cell phones are magnets for both good and bad news, having the power to quickly take me out of my story and into someone else’s. That little red number appears on my phone screen to indicate an incoming message and I’m a goner.
No, the only way—for me, at least—to keep my eyes on the page is to go cold turkey and turn the ring thing off. Plus, I only do this during the wee hours of the morning when most folks and family are safely tucked in their beds and unlikely to text or ring me up.
So far this morning it seems to be working. And as I finish writing these words a few precious days before Christmas, it occurs to me that Santa and I have something in common. We both do our best work before the sun rises and I never turn down free cookies.
Although I bet the big guy doesn’t dare turn off his cell phone while working his magic lest he end up on Mrs. Claus’s naughty list.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
BARBARA NEAL VARMA is a contributing writer to Orange Coast Magazine and has appeared in other notable publications, including The Atlantic. Her easy-humor personal essays have proven popular with readers, one gaining numerous hits on Orange Coast Magazine‘s website. (Hello: Desperately Seeking Donny.) You can learn more at BarbaraNealVarma.com.
Priceless tip, glad to hear that at least some of us are writing! Keep going, this is inspiring!
Good tip—I must turn off all distractions. Does my hubby have an off switch somewhere?
Yes, I suspect he does have an off switch. For most men it’s food or some type of snack. Better yet, give him a distraction or the dreaded “Honey do list.”