The Tools That Got You There

Wondering why a change you made has no longer "stuck"? Consider if you are still using the tools that supported the change. 

Too often, we make a change, and then feel as if "we got this" and stop doing the things that got us there. I have seen this happen often with writing--a scholar adds some of the tools of writing productivity (e.g. a ritual, good use of time blocking, a sustainable session duration, accountability, self talk, entry points, etc. ) and then slowly "regresses to the mean" of their previous ways. 

Lean into the tools that get you where you wish to go. Stay in the process.

Simple Rituals to Ground You

I first wrote about writing rituals on this blog nearly nine years ago, and find it valuable to touch on them every once in a while. 

A writing ritual should have several key features:

1) It should ground you and put you in the mental space for writing.

2) It should be simple and not more than 5 minutes

3) For many people, it might be wise to include disconnecting from technology. That means, unless you have to be connected for safety or caretaking issues, turning off your cell, browser unless it is needed for a critical task that day, social media, etc.

Many who start writing rituals fail to persist once things are going well for them.  The begin to feel like they never will not write, and begin to neglect the tools that got them there. Hmm, an idea for my next post.

Happy 2021: 10th Calendar Year of Write Publish Thrive

Happy New Year everyone. While nothing magically transforms just because the calendar page turns, I think many of us are just grateful to be done with 2020. I was a tough, tough year.

One of the things for which I am grateful is all of you who read my blog. 2021 marks the 10th calendar year in which I have written in this space.  There have been over a half a million page views of over 800 points. That sounds crazy!

Yet, these numbers really mean little--what I am most grateful for are the relationships I have formed with so many amazing scholars. It is for you I feel most thankful, and you who keep me going writing here.

Happy new year, and thank you for sharing this adventure with me.