Category: The Writing Life

Are You on the Hamster Wheel?

Why is it I struggle so much at the beginning of the new year? The new year is supposed to bring a promise of great things, a new beginning, a fresh start. I’m excited and awakened to new possibilities. Yet, it’s not too long into January, where I find myself floundering….already. It’s so discouraging!

You’ve heard it said that most new year’s resolutions fail before January is over. Another study says by the second week of February. In other words, resolutions are difficult to keep. I don’t necessarily make resolutions, however, I do set goals and try to go after them with a renewed vigor. But like last year, when I felt like I was being batted around like a ball in a pinball machine, this year, I feel like I’m on a hamster wheel, spinning faster and faster, and never getting anywhere. It is frustrating. I can see how easily the “new” from the new year wears off, and the gray days of winter overtake us again. Then like I said, I’m back to floundering, and frustrated…. And any other f-words you can think of, like freefalling. (And shame on you if you went “there” with the f-word – grin).

In looking at my January flounderings, I wonder if I get too overwhelmed at the prospect of all I want to accomplish in a year. You’ve heard the joke about eating an elephant? You can only eat it one bite at a time. Like many of us I believe I look at the entire elephant, and think there’s no way! Not even in bite-sized pieces. Once you’re overwhelmed by looking at the entire elephant, or the entire year before you, it stops you in your tracks. You give up, say there’s no point, and chuck your planner in the trash.

There’s one the key thing to remember when you reach this point: STOP! Stop beating up on yourself. Stop looking at the entire elephant, and focus only on what you need to do next.

Get off the hamster wheel, and tackle what needs to be done today and only for today. How do you do this?

For me, time management is usually my problem. Knowing this, I’m going to try to schedule my days better. Go back to the basics: Make a list. Then do the next thing. I’m not going to worry about tomorrow’s list, or beat myself up for what didn’t get done on yesterday’s list. I’m only going to focus on the next thing. If I get interrupted, then I adjust my schedule. Sounds simple, right? What if you don’t know what should even be ON the list? Well, I’m not sure I can help you there. But here’s a thought. If you can’t get specific with itemizing a list, what about blocking off chunks of time to work on a certain project? Then another block of time will be devoted to the next project?

If you get interrupted within that block of time, then shift it to another day (making sure you have some flex in your schedule to shift to).

This concept is from one of my writing groups, where the author blocks off her writing time, then blocks off family time, then has exercise time, etc. She leaves one day free in her week in case something does need to shift. This all makes sense to me, and that’s how I’m scheduling my days.

I’m not sure how it’s all going to work out, but I have to try something. I want to get off this hamster wheel, and work toward my goals. Whether I succeed or fail, at least I can take the next step.

What about you? Are you floundering this year? Going in circles on a hamster wheel? What advice do you have for getting off the spinning wheel and making progress?

Waiting on Life

So, here I sit, one-year later…. one year of being cancer free and adjusting to my new body. But how well have I really adjusted to my new life?

After surviving a life-threatening disease, you come out of it renewed, ready to live life to the maximum. You’re ready to fulfill your purpose. I wanted to awaken each day and fulfill what God’s plans were for me.

And I think I’m failing at that miserably…

More often than not, I’m the queen of procrastination. My main goal in life is to be a writer. I’ve started three books, but have yet to finish them. I even refer to myself as a writer, however it seems I’m doing anything but that. I am very involved in ACFW, which is American Christian Fiction Writers (www.acfw.com). Being around those other writers is inspiring and makes me feel like I truly belong. Here in DFW, we have a local ACFW chapter, which is the DFW Ready Writers (waving to you all!). It’s wonderful to be friends with other writers, as we all understand each other, and know that it’s okay to have voices in your head! (As in, our characters are usually talking to us!). I’m blessed with all of these people.

But I feel like I’m blowing my opportunities! I’m wasting the time I’ve been given, and letting all my other “jobs” get in the way. Being on the board of ACFW is just an excuse not to write. I’m doing everything in and around the writing world, except for writing! I’m very frustrated with myself.

My local writing buddies: RK, MO, JO, LG, KG, and JT are terrific and inspiring. I just hope they don’t give up on me as I work my way through this avoidance or procrastination… whatever it is that’s stopping me these days.

Oh yeah, I’m moving this weekend…But that’s just another excuse.

I said to myself I’ll write after I heal from my surgery, or when I’m finished with my term on the board of ACFW, or I’ll write after I get moved and settled, or I’ll write after our national conference in a few weeks. It’s like I’m waiting for everything to line up perfectly so I can sit down and write.

Well, life isn’t going to wait on me. So, why am I waiting on life to do what I really want to do? Especially after last year — You think I would’ve learned something. I should be living my life fully. Everyone should be…

Don’t wait on life. It’s always going to be a little messy and there will always be something that comes up and interrupts your schedule. We just need to work through that. I want to do the work that God has called me to do. So, I pray that my local writing buddies will bear with me — that they will continue to support me and even kick my backside on occasion to keep me going.

Isn’t that what friends are for?

Decision – Determination – Discipline:
I had a college professor give those words as he was talking about what was needed to pass his class. We had made the decision to take his class. Now we needed to have determination, as well as the discipline to do the readings and the homework to do well.

I think this is also true for the writing life. I’ve made this decision, better yet, God has thrust this decision upon me, to write for Him. I am determined to write and to finish my manuscripts. Now that I’ve made the decision and have the determination, I am dealing with the discipline issues.

Like most writers, I have set a schedule for my writing. I have a daily/weekly writing goal, and I treat my writing as my job. Since I also have other work (thankfully, I can work from home), I pick two days a week where I take care of my regular paying jobs.

The key now is to stick with this schedule, create a habit, and make this work.
Besides the 3 D’s — I need to add one more thing: PRAYER. As I sit down to start my work day, I am trying to be diligent about saying a prayer over my work day to help me avoid distractions and laziness, and to stay focused. Whether or not I succeed, well, it is up to me. God has given me gifts to use for his purpose, and why I realize that nothing I can do can thwart God’s plans, I certainly can derail myself. By praying and bringing God into my daily work world, I am hoping to avoid the terrible D’s of: distraction, doubt, and discouragement, and continue with the positive D’s of: Diligence, Determination and Discipline.