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Caitlin McCabe is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Caitlin McCabe and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
It all started when I set aside an hour every morning for procrastinating. I was doing so much of it during the day that I just decided to bite the bullet and officially give myself an hour to "generally screw around online" which also happens to be my favorite activity.
I could easily procrastinate all day long. This is what I do:
find new blogs to love
read articles on lots of different topics
look at pictures at FFFound (this site is dangerous if you don't have an hour to spend there)
make coffee
find out the newest events in town and in cities I don't live in but wish I did
watch videos that are popular or have been sent to me
follow other people's blogrolls until I am at really obscure but fascinating places
Normally, I classified this stuff as "time wasting" and scolded myself for it a lot. Then a funny thing happened and one of those events I found in some obscure place led to a new connection that has been very valuable for me. And some of those articles that I've come across have led to really interesting conversations with people that want to work with me now.
So I set aside some time every morning for "procrastination" which made me really happy since I don't have to yell at myself for something I like to do anymore.
Now I call it "productive procrastinating" since it's more like one person brainstorming. Here's how it's helped:
I'm more on top of current events
I have met a ton of people who write cool, niche blogs
I have kept track of companies and their successes and failures with social media so that when I talk to them they know it's because I know what they've been up to
I am much more aware of topic trends online
I can play "a blog for everyone" better than most people.*
(* A blog for everyone is a game I like to play with people who "don't have time to read blogs". They tell me their interests, passion, whatever really revvs them up and I tell them a blog they will love.)
There's a difference between procrastinating and doing nothing.
When I procrastinate, it's about this kind of industry web surfing and not about sitting at my computer watching Hulu videos of Saturday Night Live. I say if you have the urge to simply web surf blogs for a while every morning then do it. I find that after my hour or so I am much more focused where I need to be.
You're my hero. This is an idea I've stumbled upon recently, though I didn't explain it so eloquently in my head.
I think you're right that there are two types of procrastination: one when you're just zoning out to stop thinking, and one when you're doing interesting things that just isn't what your boss or whoever want you to do. Don't get me wrong, the first type has its place too - you can only think and work on the What Has to Get Done without frying. But there is definitely no reason to beat oneself up over reading interesting things online. There is enough other stuff to beat oneself up about.
I think this is a great idea...and I definitely think it is helpful! I also find myself "surfing the web" throughout the day and I berate myself for it. However, when I really think about it, I am searching for new and exciting blogs and articles to get inspiration to do my job better.
Thanks for helping me rationalize my procrastination :-)
I love the blog for everyone. What a great idea. You're so right! You have such a grasp on what's going on, you're aware of local events and I think most importantly you're involved in ideas, events and work that you really enjoy. What more could you ask for? I think procrastinating has a bad rep, but you just gave it big props, showing other people how productive procrastination really can be ;)
I love to procrastinate in the same ways you've mentioned. This is a great post for many reasons, but I love that you've pulled the productivity out of all the things we do when we are "procrastinating".
I love it. I do this every morning from 8am-9am. It helps wake me up and stir creativity. When it starts creeping towards 10am though I know that I am truly procrastinating and need to get back to the hustle.
I think setting aside a time for this, almost like a todo in an of itself is an awesome idea. You never know where a new online connection may lead you.
I do this all the time...in fact, way more than I probably should. I can spend hours reading the internet, clicking my way from one blog to another until I've forgotten how I got from A to Z. I used to think of it as a waste of time...but reading this made me realize how often something I read in a blog sparks an idea I actually use at work.
I've never checked out FFFound...but given your taste, I think I'm going to have to take a look.
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