I had big hopes for today. I’d arranged things so that I’d have all day to myself, no chores or appointments, responsibilities or obligations.

Today was going to be my day to write.

Normally I fit in writing where I can, two hours here, half an hour there, an afternoon if I’m lucky. But today I was going to have a whole day.

The day started ominously. Happydoggy rolled in something on his walk and needed a bath. It’ll take about two hours to bath him at home. That includes catching him for a blow-dry afterwards, cleaning the bath and floors and playing with him to wear him out – for some reason a home bath makes him seriously hyperactive.

That’s not conducive to writing serenity.

Alternatively I could take him to the groomer’s. It’s just a bath so the local groomer will do – that’s one hour including travel and no hyperactive dog afterwards. So I take that option, and as they don’t open until 10am, I have time to write beforehand.

I find myself doing some pointless surfing. Smellydoggy is prowling in my peripheral vision, to and fro, to and fro. It’s making me feel sea-sick, what can I write like this? It’s my writing day, so I’ll stay on my laptop but I’ll just surf until it’s time to leave. My writing day can start for real when we get back.

tick… tock… tick… tock… tick…tock…

I looked at the clock. 8pm.

8pm!!!

Where has the day gone? Did I slip into a coma? I know for a fact that I’ve been busy all day long doing important things. I haven’t moved from my computer so why is there a big, blank screen staring at me?

“Get away from your laptop, you need a break,” advises Mr HW. “It will help you recharge.”

Click this image to do nothing for 2 minutes

Step away from my laptop? When I’ve got all this *stuff* to do?  Thanks but I absolutely must continue working through my do-list.

Mr HW hears the rising melodrama in my voice and makes his escape. Happydoggy follows.

I tell myself I don’t need a break. I just need to step back for a couple of minutes and do nothing.

You know something, I’m still trying.

Give it a go yourself. Click on this picture on your right, it’ll take you to a site that invites you to do nothing for 2 minutes. I say invites, I mean mocks.

Today I learnt that doing nothing happens easily when you convince yourself you are doing something. Doing something becomes imperative when you are forced to do nothing.