I love to read. I’ve read a few thousand books so far. Mostly (99%) nonfiction.
I have to be careful reading though.
I will read a blog post, a good book, a magazine article, or a newspaper column (while rare, they do still exist), about someone doing something new and interesting, like traveling across the US in a Smart car with a teardrop camper, developing a new bodyweight exercise routine, home brewing artisanal IPA, painting watercolor images with different strengths of brewed coffee alone, and such. I want to do that too.
All of it.
Right now.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think I’m alone.
The Shiny Object Syndrome is real and for us ADD and ADHD types, can pose a challenge to our success in our goals and plans.
Being inspired by others is not a bad thing in itself. Learning from others is definitely a good thing. But, sometimes I get so inspired that I forget the goal I have set and I’m headed off down a new trail, spending money on getting the information I need to do this new thing. Spending time I should be using for Operation Freedom on, more often than not, frivolous matters.
I want to paint with watercolors until I see a tutorial on painting with acrylics. Then I see Bob Ross and his wonderful oil paintings with all those happy little trees. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to paint like the great Bob Ross (or at least have that awesome afro). I want to improve my Spanish. I want to run ultramarathons. I want to get better at guitar. I want to write great fiction. I want to make online courses. I want to take award-winning photographs. I want to… I think you get the idea.
Each one of these things individually is not a bad thing. But, when the Shiny Object Syndrome sets in and I get obsessed with the next new thing, I lose focus, and I never master one thing before moving to the next.
I’m just okay at a lot of things without giving myself time with each one to get great at it.
How do I fix it?
Regain Focus. Remember my priorities – family and freedom. If what has my attention doesn’t allow me to spend more time with my family and gain me more freedom to travel (with family) and experience new things, put it aside until I have that freedom.
Does that mean I need to quit reading? No. It just means I need to be more mindful when I am reading. To be aware of those impulses. Notice the Shiny Object as I go past it in pursuit of my goals.