Since we got a cat I think I've been kinder to myself in a way, letting myself nap or stare out the window... I think it's time for some dog energy now to balance things out... Hmmmmm
Catching up on stuff and man, this is such a good way to put this: “One thing that really helped me was discarding any attachment to motivation. Motivation is the fun-but-flaky friend who overpromises and underdelivers. Motivation is unreliable, and it is not going to get most of us through a book or any other long-range project.” I feel like people are so quick to commend my motivation re: powerlifting especially, and I’m always saying I don’t really have any, lol. As you mention, so often the motivation just isn’t there…we have to trust the discipline of our routines to get us where we need/want to go. Thank you for this!!!
I really dig this piece. As a person who played a contact sport for years, I really relate to the need to be in an intense activity to cry. For a long time, I would rather run, write, fight, or ruck over something rather than cry.
Thanks for putting words to getting into a routine that isn't mechanical. I've been working on a few of my routines for the past 4 months intentionally. It's been fun to try things out - to be silly & goofy with my routines - whatever it'll take me to make sure I get up and create my day, rather than the day being created for me.
Dogs solve all kinds of problems lol. It helped me a lot to have some external “tent poles” to help structure my time, especially during periods when I wasn’t teaching full time. I only have so much time to write in the morning before Oscar is ready for this constitutional, so I have to stay organized! Otherwise a few things that have helped me find the right shape are experimentation (i.e. trying out different shapes and seeing what feels right for the season I’m in); being intentional about what I do for the first hour or two that I’m awake; and keeping it simple. I can swing between chaos and concocting some complicated morning that I absolutely will not stick with—so I try and focus on simple + sustainable.
It is SO hard! I think I lived in varying degrees of chaos for so long that the feeling is familiar even as it’s become unwelcome. Definitely an ongoing struggle to not slide back into that familiar swirl.
“Sometimes people ask me if I worry about boxing taking time away from writing but boxing has so totally rehabilitated how I treat myself and how I organize my time that I now have more energy to give to my work and not less.” This this this 100% is how I feel about tennis. I think I used to trick myself into believing just about all of my time and energy had to be put into writing when really creativity, focus, and drive are not these precious limited resources and can actually be quite abundant the “busier” and more varied in my passions I am. If that makes sense lol. Anywayyyy thanks for this!
I had a beyond the veil moment of my own in Florida recently. I went on a solo writer's retreat the last half of January at a cheap beachfront condo in Panama City Beach. It snowed while I was there, right there on the beach; an otherworldly effect I wasn't prepared for. Best believe that moment showed up in the writing. A gift.
Also? Much love to you as you have this moment of grief.
Agreed.
Thank you so much for this, Laura.
Since we got a cat I think I've been kinder to myself in a way, letting myself nap or stare out the window... I think it's time for some dog energy now to balance things out... Hmmmmm
Catching up on stuff and man, this is such a good way to put this: “One thing that really helped me was discarding any attachment to motivation. Motivation is the fun-but-flaky friend who overpromises and underdelivers. Motivation is unreliable, and it is not going to get most of us through a book or any other long-range project.” I feel like people are so quick to commend my motivation re: powerlifting especially, and I’m always saying I don’t really have any, lol. As you mention, so often the motivation just isn’t there…we have to trust the discipline of our routines to get us where we need/want to go. Thank you for this!!!
I really dig this piece. As a person who played a contact sport for years, I really relate to the need to be in an intense activity to cry. For a long time, I would rather run, write, fight, or ruck over something rather than cry.
Thanks for putting words to getting into a routine that isn't mechanical. I've been working on a few of my routines for the past 4 months intentionally. It's been fun to try things out - to be silly & goofy with my routines - whatever it'll take me to make sure I get up and create my day, rather than the day being created for me.
Thank you for reading! Love that distinction bet "creating" vs "being created for."
So wise Laura!! But how do you start a routine and/or figure out what general shape is right? Maybe I need a dog! 🐕
Dogs solve all kinds of problems lol. It helped me a lot to have some external “tent poles” to help structure my time, especially during periods when I wasn’t teaching full time. I only have so much time to write in the morning before Oscar is ready for this constitutional, so I have to stay organized! Otherwise a few things that have helped me find the right shape are experimentation (i.e. trying out different shapes and seeing what feels right for the season I’m in); being intentional about what I do for the first hour or two that I’m awake; and keeping it simple. I can swing between chaos and concocting some complicated morning that I absolutely will not stick with—so I try and focus on simple + sustainable.
Love this thank you so <3
I am trying to get a routine going and it is so hard. I like the self hypnosis idea, which I’ve done.
It is SO hard! I think I lived in varying degrees of chaos for so long that the feeling is familiar even as it’s become unwelcome. Definitely an ongoing struggle to not slide back into that familiar swirl.
“Sometimes people ask me if I worry about boxing taking time away from writing but boxing has so totally rehabilitated how I treat myself and how I organize my time that I now have more energy to give to my work and not less.” This this this 100% is how I feel about tennis. I think I used to trick myself into believing just about all of my time and energy had to be put into writing when really creativity, focus, and drive are not these precious limited resources and can actually be quite abundant the “busier” and more varied in my passions I am. If that makes sense lol. Anywayyyy thanks for this!
Yes! Love that way of thinking about it, that the more varied our passions the more abundant our focus / creativity can be.
I had a beyond the veil moment of my own in Florida recently. I went on a solo writer's retreat the last half of January at a cheap beachfront condo in Panama City Beach. It snowed while I was there, right there on the beach; an otherworldly effect I wasn't prepared for. Best believe that moment showed up in the writing. A gift.