With sites like Youtube and Hulu in existence, distractions are a part of life nowadays. Now that I utilize Google Reader to filter hundreds of sites into easily searchable feeds, I've become a master at scouring the internet for strange, silly oddities. Do I spend lots of time on facebook or online games? No. But are all of my internet searches relevant to what I'm writing? Of course not.
However, do I completely discourage distractions? No, not completely.
As long as I'm writing often and consistently, I don't mind a silly Youtube clip now and then. If it makes me smile and brightens my day for a few minutes, then I don't consider it unhealthy.
I've often proclaimed that boredom is the ultimate creative force in the universe. The best ideas come when we aren't actively looking for them (historical examples of this include stories about how Sir Isaac Newton and Archimedes came up with some of their most famous ideas). So, even if I'm really busy, I'll try to let my mind go blank while walking outside to run down an errand, or stay in the shower a little longer than necessary. Sometimes it helps.
Or maybe I'll look up something silly on the internet, like Merton serenading people on Chatroulette. After all, it made me smile and forget the business of life for a few minutes. Sometimes, that helps too.
