I finished writing my story in ten minute intervals.  With the kidlet nearby, that’s about all I get.   I would just read the last line I wrote and full speed ahead until I ran out of time.

Revisions are taking longer.  I have to sit, get my bearings, think about the direction I was going, and then the direction I want to go.  Only then am I able to put words to paper.

But, it sometimes takes me longer than ten minutes to get my bearings.  If I only have ten minutes and it takes me that long to get my bearings, well, as you can imagine, words have been slow going on paper these days.

This just means I spend a lot of my precious time in front of the computer just staring at my document, thinking. 

And the thinking isn’t just “thinking.”  It’s full of anticipation, of hope, and of nervousness for the words to come.  It’s pregnant thinking.

All that anxiety in my thinking, with very little activity, leaves me feeling antsy, fidgety.  And I’m a pretty antsy, fidgety person by nature, so all this additional antsiness and fidgetiness isn’t helping matters.

So what do I do to help alleviate antsiness and fidgetiness?

Well, usually I do the dishes.

Inspired, huh? 

Sorry if I let you down there.   No spa treatments or manicures.  In fact, all this dishwashing would make a manicurist gasp in distress, I’m sure.

This month alone I’ve scoured the bottom of my pots and pulled out the china from my wedding.  I have the family here for Thanksgiving; it needed to be done anyway.

Why dishwashing you ask?  Well, it seems to me that every time my mind is filled to the brim, I need to do something with my hands to expel all that energy.  I used to crochet, but my kidlet can hardly spare me for 10 minutes at a time.  I somehow doubt he’d be patient while I stitched my way through my thoughts.  (“Of course, mother, I’ll play here quietly while you compose your ideas.  You know I aim to be agreeable.”)

And well, there is no shortage of dishwashing to be done at my house.

Sometimes if I want a change of pace, I clean.  Scrubbing floors, the bathtub, the toilet.  Not so much vacuuming, just doesn’t feel as immediate.  When I scrub things with my hands, I see the dirt being removed and that action is cathartic for me.  When I vacuum, the vacuum gets the therapeutic experience and that hardly feels the same.

Earlier this week I wished that I exercised when I needed to get out the energy.  Instead I become Molly Maid.  My house should be spotless, but alas, no go.  Just short fits of manic cleaning and back to whatever else is pressing on my time.

But boy, those moments of clarity, with my hands moving, they are priceless. 

Now if I can just get some more facetime with the computer….  Or I just might take to scrubbing down the windows.

Do you do anything special to clear your mind?  Anyone else have to do something with their hands when their brain feels full?  Any great yoga mantras or relaxation techniques you can suggest?  Have the number of great masseuse?   Any ideas on how to deal with a small person jabbering nearby?