Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Switching Brain Channels, Push-ups, and Seinfeld


"I'm bored."

My three boys know NOT to say this in my presence. If I hear them, they must drop and give me 10 push-ups. It's a fun trick I learned from another mom.

But I have a dirty little secret: I have a short attention span and get bored easily too.

Last week I read my own novel so much my eyes are still staring at the tip of my nose. I'm sure that's not normal. I needed a commercial break.

My solution? I allowed my brain to switch channels. I dove head-first into my next project, which is a nonfiction piece I'm really excited about. Today my husband and I took a mini road trip to do research. Picture the dog with his head out the window, his ears flapping in the wind. That's how it felt.

In a couple of days I'll get back to my novel. By that time it'll feel fresh and fun again, just like catching a long-forgotten episode of "Seinfeld."

How about you? Does your brain needs to switch gears from time to time?

And the all-important question: what is YOUR favorite "Seinfeld" episode? Soup Nazi? Yada, Yada, Yada? The Bet? If you're too young to know, then excuse me while I run into my room and cry.

19 comments:

  1. Ooo Seinfeld. I've got to say I love that early one in the Chinese restaurant where they can't get seated. It was the first episode I ever saw and still one of my favorites. Switching gears is essential. That's all. It just is.

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  2. KarenG, yes, I remember the one in the Chinese restaurant too! So simple, yet so funny.

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  3. Oh, Julie! Thank you for sharing the push-up remedy for bored youngsters. My oldest daughter complains of being bored often, so this tid-bit of info will definitely come in handy. I love that your husband tagged along on the researching road-trip. How sweet is he!!! :-) I hope you found lots of worthy information, and most importantly, enjoyed the day together. Have a great Humpday! Tory

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  4. Tory, I hear your pain with the bored kids! I had to do SOMETHING about it! And my husband, yes, he's definitely a keeper :) From your blog, I can see that your guy is an awesome hubby too. One more thing to be thankful for.

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  5. My son will be twelve in a few months, and lately he's been spouting "I'm bored." I'm going to try the push-ups!

    I often switch gears too. It keeps me fresh.

    My favorite Seinfeld episode? I love the one when George is applying for a job and uses Vandalay industries as a reference. Another one is when it's Bizarro World, and George and Elaine switch places.

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  6. Hi Theresa! Another "bored" cure? Make 'em do housework!

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  7. What is this thing called 'bored'? How does one find time for it? :) As for needing to switch gears to kick my writing in, sometimes I do need to do that. I try to watch a show in the same genre in hopes of it inspiring me or setting the mood.

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  8. Got it: push-ups cure for boredom, or at least, The Kiddo will be in super shape since she claims she's always bored.

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  9. Heather, I wonder the same thing. How can they be bored? Their lives are lived in super-sonic speed, and don't seem to know what to do when things slow down.

    Cynthia, another scary tip is handing The Kiddo the vacuum. I've done that too, mean mother that I am!

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  10. When I need to take a break, I have to wait until the end of a revision pass or read a book. I just can't work on more than one project at once.

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  11. Angela, I hear you. Too many traffic lanes for the brain!

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  12. Love the post! Right now I just need to get out of query hell, so any brain switch sounds wonderful. Seinfeld episode? Definitely Soup Nazi. We use "No .... for you" in conversation at least once a week around my house. Thanks for the smile!

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  13. I switch channels constantly. But I am lucky in that I write more than one genre. I work on my NF until I get bored, then I switch to fiction, then toss in a children's picture book or some poetry. It keeps me on my toes :)

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  14. Michelle, sounds like an excellent plan. No room for boredom there!

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  15. Adventures, thanks for stopping by. Soup Nazi IS great. And we can't forget the Elaine dance episode!

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  16. You're such a cool mom! I love Seinfeld. I'd have to say my favorite was when Elaine had "shiksapeal."

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  17. Oh I love that imagery of the happy dog with its ears streaming in the wind! I want that feeling again. I feel like I have lived my novel-to-be for ever and a day. But I fear I take too many commercial breaks already!

    Thank you for popping by my blog! Nice to virtually meet you. :)

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  18. Lisa, I don't remember shiksapeal. Now I need to see it!

    Jayne, nice to virtually meet you too!

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  19. My wife reacts the same way to the "I'm bored" complaint. :)

    Sometimes I'll switch channels and work on a short story for a little bit, but never on another book. I'm a one book at a time type of guy. It does help in preventing my writing from becoming stale. :)

    Great post!

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