Gimme My Routines!

I’m a big fan of putting routines into place that make accomplishing your goals and desires as automatic as possible. That wasn’t always the case. Being the spontaneous, let’s have fun as often as we can type of person that I am, it took me a long time to realize that establishing routines would actually create an atmosphere where spontaneity could thrive. Example: Every morning, within twenty minutes of getting out of bed, I am dressed and ready for my day. That ensures I’m ready for whatever unexpected event occurs. I also fold clean clothes while watching TV in the evening with my family, combining a mindless chore with some (mindless?) relaxation and family time. These routines simplify my life, revealing time and opportunity for planned and unexpected activities.

That’s why writing routines are so important to me. Lately my routines have been almost non-existent. I check email and spend way too much time before settling down to write. I let the conversations going on around me distract me from what I’m writing. I flit from project to project, not finishing any of them. Granted, the past few weeks are not the norm with all the extra visitors and activities going on around me, but even before that my focus and productivity were at an all-time low.

It is time to re-establish my routines! (Or will be once my son is back on base.) When this blog posts, I’ll be driving home from taking him back to base. There are a few catch-up household things that will need to be done this week, but I’m hopeful this is the week I get back to a productive routine.

James Scott Bell, “The Art of War for Writers,” will be our guest blogger tomorrow and is offering free sample pages of his new book. I’ve already read most of the sample and think it might be very helpful in my quest to re-establish a writing mindset and work habits. Be looking for his blog tomorrow so you can get a free sample . . . as well as a chance to win one of his other books.