Monday, December 7, 2009

On housekeeping ...

Two days ago I spent 45 minutes cleaning out my e-mail inbox. For the first time in months I don't have unopened messages and lots of junk mail greeting me when I log in. Today I'm spending an hour, but only an hour -- finals start on Wednesday, people! -- doing as much laundry, dishes, and general straightening as I could in 60 minutes. Part of me thinks it's just a way to justify procrastination. It's taking all the discipline I have to keep staring at my Contracts outline. Another part of me is conviniced I'll study better now some of the junk in my life is gone.

I had the same neurotic tendencies at work. Even when I was pushing right up against deadline, I'd often take the time out from writing to clear off my desk, go through papers, and wipe off all the gross grime and dust that would invariably settle around my computer. I think it helped me write more clearly, but I rarely tried it the other way, so maybe I was just putting things off unnecessarily. Does anyone else have a hard time concentrating when they feel like their desk, e-mail inbox, kitchen sink, or laundry basket is about to swallow them whole?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I hear you! My home is never cleaner than right before I have a huge project due :)

Emma said...

Yep, I am the same way. Things need to be clean and tidy before I can focus on ANYTHING Else.

Sierra said...

I can't do ANYTHING unless my house is clean! I realize how obsessive that is, but I concentrate so much better with a tidy house and chores done

Kristen said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I decided I NEEDED to wrap all of my family's Christmas presents last night before I could focus on studying for my test this morning. Hope that finals prep is going well now that your house is spotless. And yes, we will get together and celebrate that you survived your first semester of law school once we're done.