The McDonald's Office

Sometimes, the house is an accumulation of voices vying for my time. I just can't ignore the dishes in the sink, the dust on the entertainment center, or the toothpaste splattered in the bathroom sink. We all have days during which the house is in disarray. No matter how hard we work to keep it clean, an unexpectedly busy day sets the stage for a few messes. For me, yesterday was fraught with an unusual number of errands and activities. My eyes paid the price this morning when I scanned the eyesore and felt a pull to clean it up that I would liken to the Death Star's tractor beam.

But, wait, I'm a writer now, and I have committed myself to working five hours a day. No matter what.

The fact is, if I worked an office job, I wouldn't call my boss and tell her I'm going to be a few hours late because I need to get my cleaning done. Being my own boss, I need to practice same respect and discipline.

Freeing my mind of the guilt of leaving my home messy requires some mental acrobatics. Here, a little bit of playful pretending can be helpful. I pretend that my, ahem, “Art,” is a higher calling than grime. I call up as much hubris as my passive demeanor can muster without making my eyeballs blow out from the strain.

For the days when the homemaker in me simply will not stand down, I head to my local McDonald's or library to take advantage of their WI-fi connection. This morning, my caffeine addiction led me to McDonald's. I'm free of the distractions of home while basically glued to my seat because it's just not wise to leave a laptop computer unattended in public.

Leaving home to write is an education in work habits. It can help you learn techniques that can keep you on track even when you come home. Here's what I learned.

• I can, actually, realign my concentration without a ritualistic (and time-wasting) walk to my coffee pot.

• Music is not distracting when I am freed of the control to turn it up, down, or off altogether.

• Mornings, especially, require due diligence and care to prevent wastefulness. They are my warm up time and, traditionally, the time when I get frustrated with my lack of productivity.

• Yet, if I just stay put, the engine will warm up and my perseverance will pay off come afternoon.

I left McDonald's when the lunch crowd was coming in. At home, I was eager to get back to work. I spent a quick ten minutes tidying up the kitchen simply because I don't want to stare at it from my seat at the kitchen table. The rest can be done during designated cleaning times.

I used to think that writing in public was just a pompous display. Well, turns out I was being harshly critical. Taking my laptop to a public place so that I can work is actually helpful. I learn how to tolerate distractions, stay seated, and focus my attention. There is nothing around me while I am working in public that could benefit from my attention. I learn that, as a woman, I don't need perfection around me to focus on my writing. I simply need to set aside my feeling of responsibility for every aspect of my environment.