Okay, let me tell you about trying to get some actual work done the other day. It turned into a whole thing, mostly thanks to that Shelton vs Perricard match. Or maybe it was Van Assche? My memory’s a bit fuzzy on the name, honestly, but I definitely remember Shelton.
Getting Started (Or Trying To)
So, I sat down at my desk. Had a list of things I needed to plow through. You know how it is, emails piling up, that report deadline breathing down my neck. I fired up the computer, opened the necessary files, got my coffee right next to me. Ready to be productive. That was the plan, anyway.
Then I made the mistake of checking my phone quick. Just a glance. Saw some chatter online about the tennis match. Shelton playing this French kid, Perricard, or whatever his name was. Didn’t think much of it at first. Young guys, probably be a quick match. Shelton’s got that rocket serve, right? Figured he’d blow him off the court.
The Distraction Begins
I tried getting back to that report. Typed a few sentences. Then my brain started wandering. Wonder what the score is? Just a quick look won’t hurt. Found a live score site. Okay, first set done. Shelton took it, no surprise there.
Back to work. Managed about fifteen minutes this time. Solid effort, right? But then I started thinking about Shelton’s game. That crazy energy he has. Does he ever get tired? And this Perricard guy, hanging in there. Must have some fight in him.
- Checked the score again. Second set was tight.
- Found myself looking for highlights on some social media feed.
- Then thought, maybe I can just put it on in the background? Low volume.
Bad idea. Terrible idea. Found a stream. Picture wasn’t great, kinda choppy. But you could see the action. Put it on the small screen beside my main monitor. Supposedly just for ‘background noise’. Yeah, right.
Giving In (Mostly)
Next hour or so was a complete mess. My eyes kept flicking over to the match. Shelton blasting forehands. The other kid scrambling, getting balls back you wouldn’t believe. It got really interesting. Suddenly, that report seemed incredibly dull. Who cares about quarterly figures when there’s a tiebreak going on?
I basically stopped pretending to work. Leaned back in my chair, just watched. It wasn’t even like a super high-stakes final or anything, but it just sucked me in. You see Shelton, this powerhouse, and then the other guy, digging deep, playing smart tennis. It’s a good story, you know?
I’d tell myself, “Okay, after this game, back to work.” Then it would be, “Okay, after this set.” Pretty soon, the match was over. Shelton won, I think. Or maybe he lost that tight set? Honestly, the details get fuzzy again. The main thing I remember is the back-and-forth, both on the court and in my head trying to focus.
The Aftermath
End result? Report didn’t get finished. Emails still sitting there. Spent a good chunk of my afternoon watching tennis I hadn’t even planned to watch. Felt a bit annoyed at myself, but also, it was kinda fun? Just one of those days where the plan goes out the window.
It’s funny how stuff like that can just grab your attention. You think you’re in control, focused, disciplined. Then a simple tennis match pops up and suddenly your whole schedule is wrecked. Maybe I need a better system. Or maybe just admit that sometimes, watching a couple of young guys battle it out on a tennis court is exactly what the brain wants. Anyway, that was my big “productive” day, derailed by Shelton and… what’s-his-name.
