I’m making real progress on my backlog, which is honestly surprising considering how badly I screwed things up a few weeks ago.

The Women in History articles are moving again. The half-finished drafts are getting finished. Emails are getting answered. Assignments are getting turned in. For the first time in awhile, it actually feels like I’m moving forward instead of digging the hole deeper.

And here’s the weird part.

I think chastity is helping.

I know, I know. Some of you are rolling your eyes right now because every chastity guy eventually starts talking about “clarity” and “focus” and other bullshit that sounds like it belongs in a self-help book. I used to roll my eyes too.

But damn it, there might actually be something to it.

When I’m unlocked and left to my own devices, a certain percentage of my brain is always looking for distraction. Social media. Television. Random internet rabbit holes. Daydreaming. Procrastination. You know, all the productive activities that definitely help a person meet deadlines.

When I’m locked, though, that energy has nowhere useful to go.

So apparently it gets redirected into work.

It’s not just Magazine stuff either. My regular job has been going great lately. Projects are getting completed early. My inbox is under control. People keep complimenting me on being organized, which is honestly hilarious if you’ve ever seen the state of my desk.

I don’t know if it’s the cage itself, the punishment hanging over my head, the desire to get released, or simply the fact that I know Mizz Geena is eventually going to ask whether I’ve completed my assignments.

Probably all of the above.

Whatever the reason, I’ve become one of those annoyingly productive people that I normally hate.

The funniest part is that my Owner keeps noticing it too.

I’ll finish some project, knock out an article, answer a pile of emails, and she’ll just smile and ask, “How’s that chastity working out for you?”

And because she enjoys my pain, she’ll ask that while holding the key.

The truth is, I miss my freedom. I miss having the option. I miss not having a constant reminder hanging between my legs that my work is unfinished.

But I also can’t argue with the results.

For better or worse, my punishment series is working.

Which is probably exactly why I’m still locked.