This is my 101st post and it’s already April. When the notification and the gold star accompanying my 100th popped up on my screen, I thought, “Wow! It seems like November was just yesterday. I have been writing since last May. I should go outside.”
Blogging has become an integral part of my life and sometimes I forget to take a break. Breaks are important. They keep you sane. Sanity is good.
Here are some warning signs that you may be spending too many hours in front of your computer.
It’s time to take a break:
When you get up from your chair and your body refuses to unfold into an upright position.
When you start air quoting everything you say.
When you look around your house and don’t recognize it.
When your friends start avoiding you for fear that they will end up in your next post since you are always in search of new blog fodder.
When you walk outside and squint in the sunshine with your parka on, only to realize that it is 75 degrees.
When your dog is the only one who doesn’t mind your mutterings and laughter while you type away on the keyboard and in the meantime has given up on ever being given a walk and has become a professional couch surfer.
When you are still in your pajamas and it is time to go to bed.
When you wake up in the middle of the night with blogger’s avatars dancing in your head.
When you start talking to someone and get frustrated that you can’t edit your last sentence.
When you need a shovel and a hazmat suit to clean your house.
When the only people you talk about have names like, Justifiable Naugahyde, Tad Abrasive, and Zombie von Chewurfaceoff.
Yes friends, after writing a book and 101 blog posts in the last 11 months, I have witnessed each and every one of these red flags. I’m going to take my own advice and get some fresh air. Peace out. Hey wait! I got a notification that Lovemygiblets just left a comment on my blog…
~~~
Do you ever have a problem tearing yourself away from your computer?
What is your worst time-sucking activity?
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
Wow, I think a lot of people have spring fever today. There are a lot of posts today about taking a break, going on vacation, etc. Good to know I’m not alone in the “needing to take a break” category. I thought my dog was a permanent part of the couch, but now you’re telling me that might not be the case? Hmmmm.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Patricia that’s what our dogs would like us to think… 🙂
This post really started with all the funny avatar names and took off from there!
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Yes a break! But I’ve learned so much and more to learn, so I constantly try to thin out what I’m looking at and keep things minimal. I’m on vaca right now and only check this for a short bit. Learning to take pics with the ipad, always something but I love it. My kids know so much and I do not want to be left behind, no way jay! 🙂
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Awesome! That is great advice. It is good to keep evaluating. Thanks for stopping by while on vacation. Have a great time!
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Please don’t go not so soon! Okay, promise to be back early to tickle us with laughter….Congratulations! I love your blog!
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Thanks Charles1 I’m back!
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A rest period is too small 😦
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I can really relate to this post!
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I am so glad you could relate and yet it is a curse us writers have to bear! Hahaha!
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Congratulations on 100 posts. I just got my 100th subscriber at amperart.com (the ampersand as free & fabulous art).
I tried subscribing to your blog but something’s wrong–I’ll try again.
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It went through! Thanks for subscribing!
Congrats on your subscribers~
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My worst time-suck is my 11 hour day job.
#nuffsaid
😉
-Jimmy
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Dang! Thanks for stopping by Jimmy!
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Great post, Susie! I especially love the hazmat suit to do housecleaning! A break every now and then is a must. My biggest time suck is babysitting all day. I have to sneak in what I can while he’s sleeping or in the playpen–my bad. Babies aren’t kept in pens these days. It’s a play yard. I’m working on a post about how different things are these days from when my kids were babies!
Your posts are always so much fun!
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Thanks so much Lynn and I am always so glad that you stop by! My kids are 20 and 22 so I am sure that a lot has changed. At least we have computers and cell phones now. I thought it was so great to have a cordless phone back in the day! How did our mother’s do it???
I will look forward to your post!
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What is this “outside” that people keep talking about?
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Hahahaha! I hear that “outside” is a wonderful place, but I wouldn’t know since I have only heard and read about it…. 🙂
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I think the moment I first knew I was in trouble was the time that I started to tell someone that I had to go to the store to buy carrots for my blog, and I stopped myself because I was pretty sure they’d think I was crazy.
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For your blog! Hahaha! ….You are hilarious!
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I totally get this. I’ve been struggling, adding new followers back after being followed has grown into a daunting task.. Fortunately not everyone wants to have comments or to comment. My question is this.. how to keep up when people blog daily.. it’s tough and I certainly don’t want to hurt feelings.. and I really do want to know what I’ve missed. I open my inbox and there are close to 80 messages if I miss one day… just wondering what you do to handle this? I enjoy everyone and wonder what’s the best option.. Any ideas??
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I try to make my “commenters” and “like” readers my priority.
I don’t know what people do when they have over a thousand followers, but I would love to have that problem!!
Thanks Smidge!
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Thanks, Susie!! Have a great break!!
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I am not taking a break- I am truly addicted!! Hahaha! (laughs in a high-pitched cackle)
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Lol!! Me too!!
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Congratulations!!! Recognize a lot of the signs… The scariest is the bathrobe one!
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I have done that although it was a cami that I slept in wore all day and went back to bed with. Hey! I never broke a sweat so it was clean! 🙂
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Congrats on 100 posts yay! I think you gotta embrace the blogging addiction 🙂
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I will take your advice, give it a long look, and then wrap myself up in it. There is no fighting it anyway….
Thanks Victoria!
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I am always pyjama-ed. I don’t understand the stigma. They are comfy! Good list though. I find it difficult to truly take a break. You’re always writing, even if it’s not with paper and pen (or, rather, a computer!).
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It is so true. Comfy is a good thing! I write most of my blogs in my head first.
Thanks Edward!
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Too funny! I do recognize myself in a number of things on your list. And I do need a break. Will I take one? Probably not. Just remember, Susie…don’t step outside in a bikini the next time you come up for air…until you make sure there are no windchills. 🙂
Just a quick question. Do you ever find you want to add a smiley face or an LOL in your BOOK?
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Great advice on the bikini!!
Now that you mention it, I am surprised that I haven’t. I plaster them everywhere in the comment section now. I have gotten out of the habit of using more than one exclamation point in my book, but not here. I was using 2 or 3 at a time when I first started writing it. As I go through and edit, I bet there are tons of them!!! See? I love exclamation points!
Thanks Kristy!
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I am still trying to hold myself to 2 -3 posts per week. The idea is that it gives me added incentive to continue making new art. It seems to be working, mostly….
Enjoy your time off!
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I am not taking any time off, that is the problem! Hahaha! Although I did chase a tennis ball around today for a couple of hours -Progress…. 🙂
I will look forward to seeing what you create!
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Oh, dear. I can identify with too many of these…backing away from the keyboard now….
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That is a good thing! Why am I still on mine???? 🙂
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So funny Susie! I identified with most of them but this is the one that made me laugh hardest: When you look around your house and don’t recognize it.
Great post!
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The only one that I may have exaggerated about was the shovel and the hazmat suit. The rest are based in reality! I know! Hahaha!
Thanks Madison. All teed up for tomorrow…
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Congratulations on the 100 posts. I’m pushing up to 70 since February. I may need a break…wait. Whose house am I in?
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I recently had a moment like that in my laundry room…
Your catching up!
Thanks!
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Awesome – and helpful – post, Susie!
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Thanks Hook and yet here I am being distracted by comments! 🙂
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Well, it’s official – I need a break!
Can you write me a Dr’s note? ;P
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I think we all do!
Thanks Zen!
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I like.
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