My soccer season ended on August 7th and since then I haven't gone for a run once. In fact, my exercising has been extremely minimal. Now we were on holidays for two weeks and, really, who wants to get sweaty when your on holidays, but I've been back for a week and a half and I haven't done anything.Indoor soccer starts in October, so there's no immediate games or practices to motivate me to stay in shape. I'm trying to blame the fact that it's still summer vacation, but really I'm just being lazy.
I'm finding this a bit with writing. I don't have a book deal, an editor, or an agent breathing down my neck asking for revisions on my latest chapter. I don't have to write, which for a good portion of the summer I haven't.
So I'm looking at September 1st as my January 1st and I'm making some resolutions. I'll tell you about them on Wednesday.
In the meantime, how do you stay motivated?
19 comments:
September is my January too!! It's hard to stay motivated when no one is breathing down your neck, so summer is further excuse to put off the writing and exercise. I don't think when you have kids that's a bad thing. They're only around for a short time, and then they go and grow up. Enjoy the time with them now.
Come September, I'll be back at work though. I make my own deadlines to hit, which help me stay motivated. When you are in a place like us, it's up to us to motivate ourselves, or find friends to help. :)
Can't wait to hear your resolutions!
Oh, I know how this feels. I find that when I impose my own deadlines on myself, I can accomplish things. Good luck with your goals!
I stay motivated by reading what everyone else has going on and challenging myself. Good luck!
Heidi: I loved your post today, expressing just that and as my son only has three years left of school, I'm feeling that.
Elana: I need to do better with self-imposed deadlines or maybe I just need to make them.
Candyland: I found your post today very motivational.
I've hired my husband to be my larger than life/breathing down my throat agent:)
It's working beautifully!
Sounds good. Good luck!
My daughter is starting soccer this fall. I'm excited for that. Maybe that will give me an excuse to find my old boots :)
It's in my blood:) I want this writing so badly that nothing will come in the way:)
Tamika: I'm loving that idea, although I think mine might be worse than an agent.
Paul: my daughter's playing soccer too, hope you find those boots.
Terri: I need to find my killer instinct as well.
Sigh. My mutt Laura keeps me in physical shape. I just can't disappoint that slobbery panting face.
Two deadlines are forcing me to write, write, write. Five pages for me today, which is HUGE.
I'm slow, I guess.
But that's the way it goes.
Patti
I stay motivated by surrounding myself with reminders. I have a calendar that has WRITE all over the weekends and in the spaces where I know I don't have much to do. I also try to create a visual area that is specific to my writing. Then, when I see it, it clicks on that I should be thinking about it more.
Enjoy your downtime!
It's a conscious thing. I just have to look at where I am, where I want to be, and remind myself that I won't get to the latter unless I work.
I think we go thru seasons of being more motivated than other times and that's okay. Our minds can still be soaking in life and the emotions that build our stories, even when we're not actively writing!
Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean! I was really motivated during June, then got lazy in July and August. I did manage to finish my first draft, but now I need to find the motivation to start revisions and fix chapter one. My CPs are asking me for it every day.
Yeah, Sept. is my January, too. And November's Nano. Then I focus on the holidays in Dec. and have a New Years January and make new goals.
Summer is definitely the hardest time...the kids are home, it's too hot to work out, vacations, etc. It's my most difficult time to accomplish things except spending time with my family.
I've actually been really good with the exercising. Writing not so much. But as soon as the kiddo starts school again, I'll be back at it. :)
My crit buddy and I decided we had to make goals to each other to stay motivated. We check in each week to see how our progress is coming. I hope everything gets back onto schedule and you get tons of writing done. I can't wait to see your plan!
I like Jody's answer. I find that once I start writing more regularly, I can't go to bed without writing more.
Yeah, I find that hard too.
I have been sick with a mild lung infection (which didn't feel very mild!) for about 6 weeks. So no running and no boxing. Now I am getting better I know I need to ease myself back into it. Next week, I tell myself, next week :)
Tabitha, that's awful. I hope you feel better soon.
Sounds like lots of us struggle through the summer, which of course really makes me feel better.
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