If you’ve been doing NaNo for 3 weeks now, guess what? You’ve made a habit of writing. This is a good thing because it’s our habits that shape our lives. Habits are decisions we make by reflex. Sometimes that works against us, but if we put in a consistent 3 weeks of different behavior, we can make it work for us, by establishing new habit patterns.
I developed the habit of daily writing when I was 12. It’s been a constant in my adult life. Unfortunately, when I started publishing regularly I found myself writing more and crowding out other habits. And eventually the lessening of those habits impacts writing.
Over the last year I had to re-establish the habit of reading. Of doing something, anything fun and creative that wasn’t writing. Of playing with words the way I used to, instead of thinking all writing must be professional. Being social.
And for the last 3 weeks, I’ve been re-establishing good eating and workout habits. Because without good health, I’m not going to be the writer I want to be. (Not to mention being at risk for all sorts of problems I do not want.) I’ve lost almost ten pounds, gained muscle, and have better energy and concentration.
I used a plan that I could easily follow every day to help me build better habits; I signed up for Slim-Fast. You put in your weight goal, your activity level, and it gives you an eating plan to follow that’s a balanced diet. If you’ve gotten out of the habit of balanced eating, it’s helpful to be shown what it looks like. What a 500 calorie dinner looks like. I get reminded to drink 8 glasses of water and walk for 30 minutes and eat my vegetables. Yes, I needed to be reminded. I’d gotten out of the habit.
Now instead of putting on the 2nd pot of coffee by 9 in the morning, I might have my 2nd cup. So I won’t join Balzac in producing a lot of words and then dying of caffeine poisoning.
It’s been an adjustment, but building new habits always is. Once we’ve built them, momentum is on our side. After the 3 week mark, habit helps maintain the new behavior that helps us make our lives look more like what we want them to be instead of what we wished they were.
You are doing great. 🙂 Keep it up.
Thanks! I am.
Good job. And Happy Thanksgiving. 🙂
Thanks, happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
You’re really making some positive changes, Charli. You’re doing great!
It makes life much better. : )