I know people hate it when bloggers start blogging about not blogging. I mean duh, if you can blog about not blogging, then you can just as easily blog about something else… something that doesn’t suck.

Right?

But see, this is different. Because I’ve had a revelation. As the title suggests, a startling one, in fact.

Are you ready?

I can NOT blog when I have other work-y type obligations hanging over me.

This is way more revelatory than it seems.

I’ve heard some people say they can’t write when their desk is messy.

I had a similar issue in college. I couldn’t write important papers when my dorm room was messy…which meant my awesome BFF had to come over and help me clean my room so I could get my paper done.

I know what you’re thinking… I sometimes wonder how it is that I’m allowed to raise small humans, too.

But messy desks no longer prevent me from writing. I can do ‘messy desk’ for months without flinching.

No. Now it’s work.

Do you know what I do for work? I’m not sure I ever talk about it here.

I’m a graphic and web designer and I help people run and maintain their web sites. I’m  a creator and a fixer and a teacher and basically, and I stay super busy.

I stay busy enough, in fact, that I always have something hanging over me.

There’s always something to be done. ALWAYS.

How can I collect my thoughts when I have all this crap to do?

I have to be relaxed to collect my thoughts; to see the humor in everyday things; to extract from my brain all the things I fleetingly thought of sharing here.

I can, however, watch TV, read books, play Words with Friends and goof off on Twitter. None of these have ever presented a problem.

Lucky me.

*sigh*

When I started this blog, my only job was taking care of my kids. When it was time for preschool and naps, it was also to think and ponder and let my thoughts wander freely. When they went to bed, it was time time to sit down and write.

Now school time signifies the first shift of my work day and bed time signifies the second. When is there time for anything else (TV, books, Words with Friends and Twitter notwithstanding)

I don’t mean to complain. I’m grateful for all my good fortune and the ability to contribute without having to go to a workplace and miss being around my kids.

And I won’t even consider turning down work. I’m afraid if I do, it will jinx me somehow and the steady stream of work will dry up.

But like all working moms, something has to give. The myth of having it all is just that…a myth. Something always suffers— no matter what we were told back in the 70′s, there just isn’t enough mojo to go around.

And for me, there are two very specific things that suffer (we’re not even going to count house cleaning, mmmkay?):

• My relationships both in and outside the magic box

• My writing (and pretty much any other creative endeavor)

(Sidebar: does it sound pretentious to call it writing? I mean it’s a blog. Can I call it ‘writing’ without sounding ridiculous???)

What about you? What, if anything, impedes your blogging/writing?

Or if nothing does, maybe you’ll share your secrets for keeping your eye on the ball.