you are gorgeous - FACT.

:-D

and to contribute a more useful comment ;) i've tried not checking email first thing, but it doesn't work for me. i prefer to open my inbox, deal with it for half an hour while i have breakfast, and then i can close it and get on with my work. Otherwise it's always in the back of my mind - 'are there emails i need to attend to?' i feel clearer - hence more inspired - if i've cleared some space in my brain first.... nagging thoughts get in the way x

Hey Marisa, I think the points you mentioned are key to being creatively productive. I actually began doing my creative work first in the day and internet/socialnetworking/other communication after and found this very helpful for me - it does take some discipline to make it a habit but I think it's well worth it.

lists on the legal pad remind me of my old boss. He kept a running list sometimes 100 items long in his planner. Every so often he would restart a new list when he felt that it was manageable enough. I used to laugh at him because I thought it was so crazy. I was from the Franklin Covey days and the the 7 habits of highly effective people (incidently this boss took all his project managers to a day long course on how to use the 7 habits) He and I still keep in contact and recently I had sent him a note about something. It took him awhile to respond and he was very apologetic but in the back of my head I knew I was on the list probably #70 or 75 and he would get to me, eventually. Thanks for that little reminder, Marisa--I seem to be following in his footsteps. I have several notebooks but one that keeps my "lists" organized. I add to them and remake them much in the same way he does (I don't allow myself to get to 100 items though-don't want to be too much like him)

Marisa-that was me Sarah on the "long post" somehow it signed me in under my twitter account...wasn't sure you would recognize me...

Lots of thoughts indeed.

I don't have legal pads, but all my co-workers know that there are always sheets of printer (letter size) paper on my desk. I will write the things I need to do, jot down ideas, and sometimes draw diagrams and do calculations on them. It helps my thinking process and help me stay organized. Crossing things out as I finish them is quite nice.

As for the digital stuff, what I need to do is skip more posts in my RSS reader. I've already skipped many of them but I still found myself wanting to read too many of them.

This is so interesting, as its been on my mind so much lately. I "trimmed" my blog reader list back in the summer in what I described as a going on a "digital diet". But I have still felt really inundated with other people's information/inspiration/creativity and sharing; all good things, but perhaps too high in volume. I just got on board with twitter in the last couple of months, not getting it before and not having a reason to use it for my photography clients, now with the new blog/side business its become useful, but one more added distraction. Oi! I have been thinking about turning the mac off at night, hoping that I could get some space from the email in am, but like Susannah, the not knowing might kill me. I am trying to schedule the times I check in on things, but increasingly that takes longer and longer and so my best intentions are flying out the window. I think the key for me will be to organize my own intentions, be it blog schedule, creative time, etc in far greater detail and with much more discipline, then I can be more proactive, less reactive and feel like even if I am putting a mass of info into my head at certain times of the day, I have at least put my own thoughts to good use beforehand. I hope you find a system that works, I'd love to hear more! :)

All good ideas. In fact, I have been thinking for quite some time myself about how to get away more from the computer and put my creative time first. It's hard though, the computer like you said is very addictive and it's also a time-consuming beast at times. I think from now on I'm going to start putting creative time first. Typically, I plop down in front of the computer first thing with my coffee and check emails, facebook and maybe read a few blog posts. What I really would like to get into a routine of doing is to start my day with exercise then get into my creative work and at some point in the day check the email, etc. One thing I do like about having my facebook account and twitter is that I update my facebook with a twitter widget that I have downloaded and it's on my dashboard so if I don't feel like logging into facebook I just update my page that way. Is it really that important to update your facebook page that often? I'm not sure. Do we really even need to facebook pages? I'm not sure about that either. I have cut back on blog entries too. I feel like it's just TOO MUCH to do and think about. I have been thinking about blogging once or twice a week and that's it. As artists we are only one person with one mind even though we are usually thinking about many things at once and I was started to feel overwhelmed by it. Anyway, that's my two cents and I enjoyed watching/listening to yours. Now, I'm cleaning up the dinner dishes and heading down to the studio.

Thanks Susannah, hope the new routine is working for you!

Hey Mark! Thanks for popping by the blog. I am Marisa actually and my friend Susannahs commentary on digital detoxing as well as your article inspired me to post this video for my readers. I have only successfully managed to keep email closed through the morning a few times but am definitely working towards making it the new regular routine. Thank you again for your thoughts.