Writing distractions

I don't need much to write; my laptop, my blackberry and its usb connector (aka the charger). A notebook or two, a few pens. Usually I need a silent, or low-distraction environment; the fewer people around the better which I get at my home office.  I haven't written in my home office for a good two weeks now due to renovations; it was just easier to move around the house or even go to a coffee shop.

This week it's been different.  I've been living in a hotel for the last week; restricted mostly to my one room with a king-sized bed, television, and bathroom within a few feet of each other.  As far as places to write go, that sounds like paradise doesn't it? I mean you don't need to leave the room accept to eat.  But do I write in there? Have I done anything with my laptop besides fool around on Facebook and check email? No, at least not until today.

Today I broke out.  I left the room with its huge comfortable bed (did I mention there was room for  probably three of me) and took the small step of moving out to the breakfast bar for a while and watched TV.  Then my parents left, and shortly after so did I.  I was bound for the lobby or "Great room," or lobby home to both breakfast buffets, and dinner receptions.  I snagged a table right beside an outlet and set up shop.  Then went and grabbed my laundry basket with the goal of multitasking; laundry plus writing.  I was determined to be productive either domestically (laundry) or professionally (writing).

I managed to do both.  There was one other person using the "great room" as his office; we chatted a little about the cabinet shuffle, then went back to work- I to my interview audio, and he to his transcript.  Of course it being a semi-public place there were a few distractions; people passing down the hall, stopping at the front desk.  But it didn't stop me.  Within a couple of hours (that includes stops for laundry checks) I had what I consider a passable draft of an article.

In my bedroom, I would have watched tv, read my book, and enjoyed that giant bed.  Hotel rooms have always equalled vacation, coziness, and relaxation. The lobby distractions focused me, knowing I had a limited amount of time to get it done before dinner.  Knowing I had another chore on the go at the same time helped too.  It was as if the more distractions, the more the focused I became.