A tangled Web of procrastination
By Erica Hill
CNN Headline News
(CNN) -- The most difficult part about writing a column is getting started. It's like cleaning; all of a sudden your skills of procrastination are of Olympic proportion, and your ability to organize random trinkets and old photographs is so keen, there is no way you can abandon this calling to scrub the bathtub.
The ironic part about procrastinating on a Hot Wired column is that I end up aimlessly surfing the Internet in search of inspiration. Instead, I often find great deals on airfares, fascinating articles (not written by yours truly) on topics ranging from the benefits of eating organic foods, to making a case that sensible shoes can also be stylish.
I have always been a procrastinator; or as I spin it, I simply work better under pressure. That's why the news business is a good fit -- deadlines abound, and they're often tight.
Before the Internet, it was Tetris that would draw me in for hours while I sought inspiration -- or a closet in need of organization. These days, it's bargain shopping and the way the international media covers a story. The benefit? I soak up more information than ever, and I like to think that makes me more well rounded. The truth is, it may only be giving me a stronger prescription on my next visit to the eye doctor and a higher credit card bill.
While I didn't find the meat I was looking for this time around, I didn't come away empty-handed. I bought gifts for upcoming weddings, extended my flight so I can help my parents pack for their upcoming move, caught up on e-mail, and found a great deal on a new winter coat.
I also priced out digital music players, paid some bills, and took the dog for a walk. This Internet thing is amazing ... all in all, not a bad day. Next time, though, I'll start the surfing earlier so I can find something more interesting for you to read.
