We've done it everyone! We've made it past Blue Monday.
Christmas and New Year seem like an age away – not just a few weeks, don’t they?
Those of us who made New Year resolutions might be struggling with them by now. Around a quarter of people give up their resolutions after one week. By mid-January, most have. Less than ten percent of people are successful with their New Year resolutions. So if you’ve made it this long – well done!
It’s not easy. Blue Monday – the third Monday of January, is the term used since 2005 for the most depressing day of the year. The weather, dark mornings and evenings, January debt, the come-down from the festive season and failure with resolutions - all can combine to destroy your motivation and energy levels.
But plenty of people don’t make resolutions at New Year, and for good reason. It’s a pretty arbitrary date, after all. You can make changes to your lifestyle at any time, any day, any minute. You could take a hold of the reins and begin right now.
So for those of you who want to get into good habits with your writing, or any other aspect of your lifestyle, read on for few tips, or order your copies of Wellspring and Magpie Mind here for more advice
Christmas and New Year seem like an age away – not just a few weeks, don’t they?
Those of us who made New Year resolutions might be struggling with them by now. Around a quarter of people give up their resolutions after one week. By mid-January, most have. Less than ten percent of people are successful with their New Year resolutions. So if you’ve made it this long – well done!
It’s not easy. Blue Monday – the third Monday of January, is the term used since 2005 for the most depressing day of the year. The weather, dark mornings and evenings, January debt, the come-down from the festive season and failure with resolutions - all can combine to destroy your motivation and energy levels.
But plenty of people don’t make resolutions at New Year, and for good reason. It’s a pretty arbitrary date, after all. You can make changes to your lifestyle at any time, any day, any minute. You could take a hold of the reins and begin right now.
So for those of you who want to get into good habits with your writing, or any other aspect of your lifestyle, read on for few tips, or order your copies of Wellspring and Magpie Mind here for more advice
Writer, Know Thyself
Are you a dripper or a chunker? A dog or a cat? A sprinter or long distance runner?
When it comes to housework, my husband is a dripper. I’m a chunker. He does the things that need attention every day, such as the dishes and the bins. I do the things that I can blast all in one go once a week.
I’m terrible at getting into regular routines. I’m really much better at doing things in big chunks, rather than little bits at a time. That, however, can mean that certain things, like anything to do with health or creativity, which can significantly improve when you focus on them regularly, can suffer.
If you feel resistance at the thought of writing every day, and feel it might rob you of the spontaneity and fun of the process, but also want to get your projects moving more quickly, then maybe you’d prefer to set aside a whole morning or afternoon, rather than a little time every day, for your writing?
When and then chains
Work your small changes into what you already have as a routine. If you want to meditate every day, then maybe say to yourself “When I brush my teeth, then I’ll go sit at the end of my bed and meditate for ten minutes.”
If you want to write every day, then maybe start off with some Wellspring writing, six minutes a day in the morning. “When the kettle is boiling, then I’ll lay out my notebook and pen at the table/turn on my computer.” When I’m drinking my tea/coffee/etc, then I’ll write for a few minutes.”
Are you a dripper or a chunker? A dog or a cat? A sprinter or long distance runner?
When it comes to housework, my husband is a dripper. I’m a chunker. He does the things that need attention every day, such as the dishes and the bins. I do the things that I can blast all in one go once a week.
I’m terrible at getting into regular routines. I’m really much better at doing things in big chunks, rather than little bits at a time. That, however, can mean that certain things, like anything to do with health or creativity, which can significantly improve when you focus on them regularly, can suffer.
If you feel resistance at the thought of writing every day, and feel it might rob you of the spontaneity and fun of the process, but also want to get your projects moving more quickly, then maybe you’d prefer to set aside a whole morning or afternoon, rather than a little time every day, for your writing?
When and then chains
Work your small changes into what you already have as a routine. If you want to meditate every day, then maybe say to yourself “When I brush my teeth, then I’ll go sit at the end of my bed and meditate for ten minutes.”
If you want to write every day, then maybe start off with some Wellspring writing, six minutes a day in the morning. “When the kettle is boiling, then I’ll lay out my notebook and pen at the table/turn on my computer.” When I’m drinking my tea/coffee/etc, then I’ll write for a few minutes.”
Make small changes
There might be a lot of things you want to change about your life, but if you aim too high, then the challenge you set yourself can seem insurmountable.
I’ve made an effort this year to do a little writing every day – so I do some Wellspring writing every morning as soon as I wake up (or as soon as). This generally ends up as a poem or the beginning of a poem. Then I write a diary entry every evening – a run down of the day, my writing, anecdotes and aims for the next day. This becomes a kind of process log as well (see Magpie Mind for details).
All of this is a bare minimum. I try to write a poem a day as well, or an idea for a poem or a solution for the plot of a story every day – which often becomes my prompt for wellspring writing the next morning. (if you want writing prompt suggestions, have a read of Wellspring or sign up to my weekly e-mail with prompts, writing insights and tips, at www.figmentcreativity.com).
I’m hugely chuffed to say that all this is having a brilliant effect on my writing! I’m paying more attention to when Magpie Mind moments appear, which is happening more often, and writing them down straight away, so I don’t lose them.
Think of what you want to achieve in the next year, or five or ten years, then count it back – what can you do this month to work towards that success? What can you do this week, this day? If you want to write an 80,000 word novel, then that’s around 220 words a day. Or 1,600 words a week, allowing yourself a couple of weeks off for holidays. Breaking it down into small, bite-size pieces will make that big challenge much more manageable. One step at a time.
From little acorns...
Get support
There’s plenty of support available out there!
Use technology to help: Streaks is an app I’ve found really useful. Once you get a streak going, you’re very loathe to break it! My previous record for meditating every day was nine. For writing every day – I’ve managed every day this month!
There are also plenty of books out there to help. Listen to them on audiobook in the car if you’re struggling for time to read non-fiction (the audiobooks of Wellspring and Magpie Mind are right now going through the approval process with Audible and are nearly available to listeners!).
Other people can be a great support as well. You’re more likely to feel accountable that way. Use peer pressure in a positive way by finding a writing group that you’ll submit a piece to every month for feedback. Or find a writing coach that you can meet every fortnight or month who’ll help keep you on track (give me a shout if this is something you’re interested in: e-mail me at [email protected])
Wishing you all the very best with your writing habits – and remember, if you find your habits slip at any point, take it easy on yourself. Come back to it when you’re ready.
Happy writing!
Laura
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