How to Make Yourself Write
1. Set your alarm
2. Actually get up when the alarm goes off
3. Start writing
I'm being totally serious.
Most of the time, we don't need an incentive or a trick or a pat on the back...we just need discipline. Because like anything worthwhile in life, we don't always feel like writing.
Why am I doing this? No one is ever going to read this. This sucks. I'm tired, and the doctor said that I should get eight hours of sleep.
We come up with a million reasons to NOT write when we feel unmotivated. And I've found that the only way to push through those seasons is to use some good old fashioned GRRRRRRRRRR!
Know what I mean?
Some days I write because I'm a writer. I don't feel like writing...I have other things to do...I'm hungry...or whatever, but I make myself write. Even if it's terrible. The point is that I'm disciplining myself to do something, and that is how we get better at anything!
YOUR FEELINGS DON'T CONTROL YOU
I know, easier said than lived, but it's the key to accomplishment. Just imagine if you only did laundry and cleaned if you felt like it. Just imagine if you only ate what you felt like eating. Just imagine if you only went to work when you felt like going. Every day we do things that we don't feel like doing. Make writing one of those things. Make it a part of your life that is non-negotiable.
Writing is like breathing. You do it everyday, all the time. It's a choice, and it's one of those choices that you make for yourself. Only you can give yourself those extra minutes in the morning to write a couple hundred words before you start your extremely busy day. It's your choice.
And sometimes, that's all we get. No happy feelings, no encouragement, no nothing...just the guts and determination to stick with something regardless of how we feel.
You can do it.
2. Actually get up when the alarm goes off
3. Start writing
I'm being totally serious.
Most of the time, we don't need an incentive or a trick or a pat on the back...we just need discipline. Because like anything worthwhile in life, we don't always feel like writing.
Why am I doing this? No one is ever going to read this. This sucks. I'm tired, and the doctor said that I should get eight hours of sleep.
We come up with a million reasons to NOT write when we feel unmotivated. And I've found that the only way to push through those seasons is to use some good old fashioned GRRRRRRRRRR!
Know what I mean?
Some days I write because I'm a writer. I don't feel like writing...I have other things to do...I'm hungry...or whatever, but I make myself write. Even if it's terrible. The point is that I'm disciplining myself to do something, and that is how we get better at anything!
YOUR FEELINGS DON'T CONTROL YOU
I know, easier said than lived, but it's the key to accomplishment. Just imagine if you only did laundry and cleaned if you felt like it. Just imagine if you only ate what you felt like eating. Just imagine if you only went to work when you felt like going. Every day we do things that we don't feel like doing. Make writing one of those things. Make it a part of your life that is non-negotiable.
Writing is like breathing. You do it everyday, all the time. It's a choice, and it's one of those choices that you make for yourself. Only you can give yourself those extra minutes in the morning to write a couple hundred words before you start your extremely busy day. It's your choice.
And sometimes, that's all we get. No happy feelings, no encouragement, no nothing...just the guts and determination to stick with something regardless of how we feel.
You can do it.
4 comments
Awesome. Discipline is the key. And, faith. The path isn't always straight -- we just have to believe that it will take us where we want to go.
Hmm, I see my problem. It's somewhere around Step 2: Actually get up when the alarm goes off. :)
Great reminder...feelings aren't facts. I sometimes feel that all I want to do is lounge in bed all day, but life would be so boring. I want to do so many things, I think that sometimes the lack of motivation is really fear in disguise. I don't get off my arse and write because what if it sucks and everybody hates me and then I go eat worms...Yup, just do it.
Here I am, reading your post at 4 am, having been awake since 1.30 thanks to noisy neighbours. It was worth repeatedly trying to get back to sleep, but since I can't, even though all is now quiet, I'm going to take your advice to heart. This is what it's all about. Thank you for reminding me.
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