Unplugged

I used to have a relentless Terminator-like focus on whatever was in front of me… art, literature, design, human interaction.  It seems to have gradually slipped away in recent years.  I think I may have done it to myself.

With long hours at the drawing board, in front of the computer, or commuting, I longed for some sort of entertainment.  I've given up a lion's share of my TV/Movie watching, Gaming, and other pleasant distractions, in order to make comics and artwork.  I started listening to Podcasts, and found that they were a perfect fit for my creative lifestyle.  Helped me catch up on news, learn more about history, science, and business, or just share in passionate discussions about art, creativity, and storytelling.

But the number of shows I listen to has continued to creep upward and my interests expand and flit from subject to subject.  Soon I had a massive queue of shows that I felt obliged to listen to.  You live long enough with a persistent stream of voices in your head, even if YOU put them there, and it will eventually effect your concentration.

To that end, I've decided to unplug for at least one work day a week, just to see what happens.

I've already noticed that I have difficulty blocking out the office conversations around me, which is another important function.  I know that I could just switch to music, however, that has it's own semi-hypnotic effects as well.  Part of this experiment is to see what happens when I stop suppressing my own thoughts with an audio deluge and let my mind run.

Addendum:
apparently I turn into a raging asshole and snap at my co-workers when I can’t shut out the rest of the world.  Maybe I was just having a bad day.  Maybe.