Welcome to the A to Z Challenge! You can visit the Home Page HERE.
Today I'm going to talk about developing a habit. Be it writing every day, exercising, doing your daily chores or all of the above! Whatever your goal, you can develop a definite pattern or habit to make your idea blossom into a reality.
About a year ago, I was writing hit or miss and never really finishing anything I started. Then, I made a commitment to myself that I would write every day without fail, no matter how much or how little I wrote. But it had to be every day. I did not punish myself if I only wrote a few words, but what I found was that as the days flew by, I woke up looking forward to my time at my computer (or on paper) and I began fighting to keeping that time to myself open. It was MY time.
I look back now and see that I watch much less television and I read more and I write usually 1000 words a day. I find that the days I don't get to write (which are very few) I feel like something is missing. I haven't had my daily fix. My habit needs to be satisfied.
How to create your habit: commitment. Start out with a set period of time ... say, six weeks and commit to yourself that you will do your writing or exercise, etc. for that period of time. Check it off on your calendar or make a chart if you need to. And follow through. Even if you can't write 1000 words each day or exercise the entire 30 minutes, do something each day. Be positive and don't beat yourself over the head if you miss one day. Continue on the next day.
You'll find that after two or three weeks your activity will start to feel natural and more a part of your daily routine. It will be a habit. You'll be able to smile and feel better about yourself, because you have succeeded!
Hi...I'm hopping over from the A to Z challenge. Sounds like we followed the same path...lol...I write every day now and only turn on the TV on Sunday nights to watch Once Upon A Time...;0)...lovely post...good luck with the challenge. I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteDonna L Martin
www.donasdays.blogspot.com
Donna: Welcome! It's so fun meeting other people who are writers and can share what they know. The challenge has hooked me up with some great folks.
DeleteI'm not familiar with that TV show, but I have my own fantasy shows I like too.
Glad you could stop by!
So true! It really is about getting into a groove. I floundered a bit with writing/revising my novel - not working consistently enough for my liking! - and set myself a daily goal, a weekly goal, etc.
ReplyDeleteHappy A-Z!
Madeline: I like it when I wake up all jazzed and ready to hit the keyboard. That enthusiasm carries through the day. Sometimes I have to set a timer if I need to get other things done, otherwise, I'll sit there all day and type!
DeleteI wish I had the habit of eating healthy and exercising five times a week ... *wish* being the key word. I don't really want to work toward that quite yet ... :-)
ReplyDeleteHa. Great post!
Margo: To everything there is a season ... we have to be ready to do those things. Wishing is the first step. It's in your consciousness. When you are ready, you will see yourself improve toward your goals.
DeleteI love the part where you said if you missed a day, it felt like something was missing. You really did make it a normal part of your life.
ReplyDeleteI can think of several things in my life that I would like to see become like that!
Great post. :-)
Rettakat: It's like there's a big hole there screaming "Fill Me!" How can I ignore that kind of challenge?
Deleteafter this crazy blogging month i will get back into my writing habit with fresh eyes and ideas =)
ReplyDeletemaking good habits is hard!
Good habits are necessary, especially for writers as we spend much time sitting. Exercise, decent food, and sleep are good habits that are hard for me to keep. But I keep at it and do the best I can.
ReplyDeleteTara: I hear what you are saying. It seems like all I do is sit at my computer! But other things are important too.
ReplyDeleteStephen: Doing the best we can is what it's all about. That's making the effort.
Hi, it's interesting about habits. If you want to break one, go on a vacation. The disruption in your schedule makes it hard to go back to it once you've returned. Unfortunately, that goes as well for habits you don't necessarily want to break. After spending a week in Hawaii in February, I've had a hard time resuming my diet! Am just now getting back into my exercise routine. Will get back into my writing routine after the A-Z. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteCathy: That's a very valid point about vacations. They break up your routine and put everything on hold. The A to Z Challenge is almost like a vacation at home, only I'm writing everything except my stories!
DeleteI'm glad you could drop by. Welcome!