I have learned that champions aren’t just born; champions can be made when they embrace and commit to life-changing positive habits.
Lewis Howes
You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.
John Maxwell
I couldn’t agree more with Lewis Howes. Authors aren’t just born; they can be made when they embrace and commit to write-changing habits. If you are reading this book, you are on your way to being made an author. Ignite your potential and be the best author you can be.
At this point, you have already discovered some of the resourceful people who might give you valid ideas on creating useful writing habits. You have also considered some ways you will track your progress. Finally, you have names of individuals you will commit to give regular reports on your writing progress. You are doing great; you deserve a pat on the back.
Did you know other facets of your life affect your writing? Consider an athlete like Eliud Kipchoge, who won the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. He had to ensure every aspect of his life contributed positively toward his goal. That included his diet, sleep, daily exercise, and training.
As an author, you also need to think about the daily habits that will help your writing goal succeed.
Physical health habits
You need to be healthy throughout your writing project if you’re going to make it to the finish line. If you don’t have an exercise plan that you follow every week, I recommend picking one today. Not only will it keep your body healthy, it will refresh your mind too.
Remember, exervcise doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply go with what you love. Walking, jogging, skipping, or swimming could be just what you need to keep your body in optimum health.
Routine habits
As much as you would love to have a disciplined writing habit, this could easily take a fatal blow if the rest of your life is disorderly. How do you get a working daily routine? It isn’t rocket science.
If you have a job, you are already at a head start. Even if you’re a stay-at-home parent, your chores are your job and will force you to organise your time. Sticking to a regular pattern of keeping up with other daily activities will help you stick to your writing schedule as well.
Focus-boosting habits
This is just a fancy way of saying that you need to learn how to deal with distractions. If you are the kind of person who easily ends up doing things you hadn’t intended to do (which is most of us, if we’re being honest), this is a big one for you.
Determine how you will avoid distractions. Learn to say no. Make a plan and stick to it, no matter how tempted you are to do otherwise. Switch of your phone or TV. Whatever it takes, learn to say no to stuff that could subtly steal your time.
Researching habits
To be a good writer, you need to develop a habit of regular research. I know this may put you off, especially if you don’t consider yourself much of a scholar. However, research is not limited to the world of academia.
Whenever you read a book, look at how the author presents their ideas. Do the same when you watch TV or any movie. Ask yourself how the content creators keep their audiences glued to the screens. You can learn some tips from their styles of communication.
Celebration habits
This is very important for you to cultivate. If you’re the kind of person who is often too hard on yourself, you need to drop that attitude. Learn to celebrate yourself. Daily!
Recognise your own efforts and give yourself rewards when you hit milestones. This might just turn out to be a very effective way of keeping yourself going. Before you know it, you’ll be at the finish line.
It’s time to reflect!
- Do you already have a way to maintain your physical health? If not, what exercise plan can you adopt from today?
- What can you do to ensure your daily schedule is more organised?
- What are the common distractors you find yourself dealing with daily? How do you plan to say no to them?
- Are you a good researcher? Why do you think so (or not) and how can you improve?
- Do you celebrate yourself enough? How? And if not, in what ways can you begin to do this?
It’s time to act!
Share your reflections with tyour friend or writing partner.
Your writing habits won’t exist in a bubble, so focus on transforming your life in meaningful ways!
Writing Checklist
Did I…
- Read Day 8 Insights
- Write my reflection from today’s reading
- Write my action plan
- Share my action plan for accountability with a partner or a writer’s group