Instead of exercising this morning before heading to work, I made the mistake of clicking on my LinkedIn profile when I got on the computer to pay some bills. By the time I finished updating it, I was scrambling to make it to work on time.

So as soon as I stepped in the door this evening after work, I changed into my work-out clothes, determined to keep up my routine. But I was starving. First I would eat, then I would work out.

But I couldn't work out right after eating, could I? So I cleaned off my desk and sat down to finish paying bills until enough time had passed that I wouldn't puke when I jumped rope.

Money on my brain, or rather the lack thereof, I couldn't resist clicking on the email from LinkedIn telling me about jobs I might like. 

Well, I didn't like any of those, but I kept clicking and found one that actually did appeal to me and matched my experience and skills. So I clicked on "apply", which took me to a window requesting my resume.

Uh-oh. Updating my resume had been on my to-do list…or I should say, it's been ignored on my to-do list. It immediately moved up in priority.

I spent the next thirty minutes…hour…who knows how long, tidying it up to match the job, then finished applying.

Time to work out. No, it was late. I would just pay bills and get in bed early so I could wake up early enough to work out.

Oh, but first, I needed to print out one of my critique group member's submission for the next meeting in case I got called to substitute teach in the morning. I like to do my critiques during my long break periods. Too cheap to use new paper, I decided to clean out my file cabinet and find some paper I could recycle.

So I headed into the bedroom where the file cabinet is and noticed the basket of towels on the bed waiting to be folded. I remembered I had clothes in the washer and dryer, so I turned on "Dancing with the Stars" for ten minutes while I folded, then moved the loads around downstairs.

But instead of folding the next basket of clothes I pulled from the dryer (just Tom's work clothes – wrinkling wouldn't hurt them) I thought I better get back to paying bills.

Back on the computer, a quick glance at Facebook reminded me I wanted to submit one of my blog posts to BlogHer's Voices of the Year.

I'm getting very audacious in my old age! Perhaps I've read this enough times to believe it:

"Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers, why not gather your own bouquet?"

– from P.S. I Love You on my bathroom wall

 

But which post should I submit? I started scrolling through my posts until I came to The Artist. That would do. I filled in the nomination page then shared my audaciousness on the GenerationFabulous Facebook page, which is full of supportive women, but I've been neglectful of my own support for them lately, so I spent some time reading over a few posts and voting for their submissions as well. 

Finally! Time to pay those bills. Except, gosh, couldn't this whole crazy scenario make a great blog post? Especially if I mention the Painted Bunting I spotted out the bathroom window while I was flossing my teeth, in between eating dinner and sitting down to pay bills the first time? The one I captured in my camera when I left mid-floss to sneak out the back door and creep up on via the side porch?



April 13-0381

And that's why I never seem to get anything done. I blame it all on LinkedIn. Now excuse me, but I really need to finish flossing, pay those bills and get in bed.

Oh, but first…

 

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21 responses to “I Blame LinkedIn”

  1. Lois Alter Mark Avatar

    I can so relate to this! I was actually in the middle of writing my own post when I got the notification from FB that you posted this, so I clicked on, laughed, loved it and am commenting. Will now need to go make a cup of tea and, like you, turn on Dancing with the Stars before I go back to writing!!

    Like

  2. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I am so glad I'm not the only one!! Whew! Thanks for not leaving me in the corner by myself! (Good luck on your own post – since I'm still up, I'll go take a look!)
     

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  3. Janie Emaus Avatar

    LOL! I can so relate.

    Like

  4. ladyfi Avatar

    Ha ha! So easy to lose focus.
    I really love that bird photo though. Fabulous.

    Like

  5. Tabor Avatar

    It is amazingly easy to get distracted and to find excuses to put off the things we really don’t want to do. I agree that finding a painted bunting goes to the top of the list, though.

    Like

  6. Erica M Avatar

    If we weren’t easily distracted, we wouldn’t be writers. Or something like that. I am not a psychologist.

    Like

  7. lisa Avatar

    I getting tired out just reading this, Barbara, and at the same time, I know that I have far too many days just like it. 🙂

    Like

  8. lisleman Avatar

    Is being focused overrated? Ellen Degeneres (I think it was her) did a funny skip about getting distracted every few minutes. You do have me wondering. The bills to be paid are not that numerous that it would take very long online – right? It’s just that getting distracted from a disliked chore like bill paying is very easy. I do most all the online bill paying around here. It’s very easy to put off but once I actually login to the right place the process is quick.

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  9. Suldog Avatar

    I have very much the same problem, and that’s why it sometimes seems like I’m ignoring the blog posts of my very good internet friends. I’m not, really. I’m thinking of you the entire time I’m looking at those funny cat videos!

    Like

  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh, the bills are numerous, and it's like preparing for war, full of strategy and plotting, and I end up mentally exhausted, trying to figure out ways to make more money. Sigh. I do prefer paying them online, though. It makes it much easier.
     I think focus becomes essential if you want to finish anything! lol (P.S. I finally got them paid. Whew!)

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  11. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It seems like it gets worse later in the day…probably because I have a procrastination problem that manifests itself first thing in the morning. 🙂
     

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Well, that makes me feel better, Jim. 🙂

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Yes, seeing one of those is a definite good excuse to drop everything else!
     

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It was such a surprise and such a blessing on a crazy, harried day!!
     

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I had a feeling I wasn't the only one!
     

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I like to think it means I’m just very creative. 🙂 I also blame that on my dirty house, and the laundry that’s piled up…

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  17. Otto von Münchow Avatar

    Isn’t that always how it is? So much to do, and no time left for exercising. Tomorrow, though. Tomorrow is the day…

    Like

  18. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Well, I managed to exercise the past two days, but that means there are tons of other things I didn't have time for because of it! Sigh. Tomorrow… 🙂

    Like

  19. Kathy Avatar

    “tomorrow is the day” indeed. Who said that our lives are the sum total of all of the minutia (did I spell that correctly? lol) Somehow, I find that if I look at all I’ve accomplished in a single week instead of in a single day, my to do list of checked off “things” gets done.

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  20. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    In the middle of all that procrastination I realized you hadn’t flossed yet and was going to let that be my comment, but you beat me to it!
    Apropos of procrastinating, I got a chuckle out of this:

    The Day the Internet Died

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  21. Chloe Jeffreys Avatar

    I am late to this party, but I can so relate! You made me laugh. I can’t believe what a time suck social media can be. It is hard to stay disciplined.

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