People often ask me...

[ellenmillion]

... how do you get so much done in a day?

I'm writing an article on the topic, actually (or at least, it's on my list of thing to be working on), but the shortest answer I've found so far: I gave up reading.

I can't remember the last book I read for the sheer joy of it. In Vegas, on vacation, probably. Before that...?

This may not be odd for some people, but up until I hit college, I read a book a day, or so... ravaging through stacks and stacks of novels from the library. Romances, fantasies, science fiction, adventure, kids novels... anything, really.

Then I got busier, and 'more important' things came up... until now a book is something savored on a vacation, not a staple of my time diet.

That makes me a little sad.

(And more than a little scared for my own writing...)

Comments

[tarlia.livejournal.com]

That *is* sad but reading does take up a lot of time. On a slightly related note, I stopped buying books for two months and it was staggering how much money I had leftover after paying off bills. I put that into travelling instead.

[thrivis.livejournal.com]

I gave up reading too after shipping off to my last two years of college. :/ I used to read all the time when I was a kid. But after getting into full swing with college, I never read outside of the assigned stuff in required texts. Time factor aside, I can only seem to read when it's quiet, and people are freaking noisy all the time at the dorms, it was hardly ever quiet enough.

Have you tried audio books? I mitigate the guilt of not reading by listening. XD

I know a lot of folks don't care for it, and it's kind of weird at first but you get used it usually. It's sooo nice being about to pick up a book and still draw while you do it, lol.

If it weren't for audio books, I probably still wouldn't have "read" the last three Harry Potter books, all of the Lord of the Rings, and Interview with the Vampire. :(

[renatus.livejournal.com]

Yeah, not reading is a bad thing if you want to write. :(

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

I'd hazard that practice (both in the doing and in the self-discipline) and having no young children at home/work with you play significant roles in your "getting things done". (Actually, the latter may simply shift what the things are, but depending on whether the list catches up to reality, can also just plain hinder.)

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

**HUGS**