Do you find, at the end of your day, that you haven’t finished all of the tasks you hoped to complete? Some of you may go to bed at night having never even started something you planned to begin—like your book manuscript or an article. Does your writing project seem to be pushed to the back burner day after day, month after month, even though you keep promising yourself that you will tackle it? Brother, you need help!
How can you look at yourself in the morning when you know that you are not fulfilling your heart’s desire to write? How can you go to bed at night without having allowed yourself to spend at least a little while that day writing?
If your life is filled with “must do’s” and “have to’s” but no “want to’s,” maybe it’s time to change something. Sure, we have to make a living. Of course, we must do and be for our families and friends. We have serious responsibilities. But I’ve found in my life that if I’m not also taking care of my own needs, I don’t have much to give anyone or anything else.
Have you read my book, The Successful Writer’s Handbook? This is a little book I compiled in 2003. It’s a collection of my best writing/publishing-related articles and it includes a section on taking care of the writer. It’s all about how a writer can create balance in his/her life. Having been a full-time writer for many, many years, I have had to pay attention to my physical, mental and spiritual health—in other words, live a balanced lifestyle. It’s how I manage to function at my peak. And, for those of you who have a passion for writing or for a particular writing project, but who can’t find the time to pursue it, perhaps you could benefit from some of my tips and ideas.
• First, order and read The Successful Writer’s Handbook at http://www.matilijapress.com.
• Write a daily to-do list and give each item a time slot. Include a time for writing and omit any recognizable time-wasters.
• Take good care of your physical being—get plenty of sleep, eat your fruits and veggies, hydrate and be sure to exercise some each day.
• Nurture your muse. Become aware of your sense of creativity in everything that you do.
• Engage in activities that will stimulate your mind. This does not typically mean watching TV or going clubbing.
• Become one with nature. If you don’t have room in which to create and nurture a garden, plant and care for potted patio plants or an inside terrarium (mini garden).
• Take mini-vacations. Walk along a waterway, sit in a lush garden or simply meditate in your home while playing soft music for 15 minutes or so.
If you are running around frantically every day taking care of business and only dreaming of writing a book or starting a career as a writer, maybe it’s time for you to slow down and look for another way to manage your life.
Once you decide to enter into the world of publishing, be sure to order my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book http://www.matilijapresss.com/rightway.html
And, for fun, if you like cats, you must read my newest book, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats—now fully illustrated with over 80 photos of pretty, silly, funny, kooky, unusual and ordinary cats and kittens. http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html