We’ve all been there. We wake up in the morning and just aren’t feeling it. We slide on our gym shoes, lace them up, grab our water, and start the workout. Sure, we could stay in bed, but we know it will be worth it in the end. We just need to get started.
For all my professional writers out there, writing is no different. Yes, there are days where we’re totally in the zone and in the flow, but that doesn’t happen every day. As a recreational writer, that’s totally fine. As a professional writer…. Well, we’ve got deadlines to meet and dreams to deliver. We can’t just write when we feel like it.
The good news is that writing on those days is often like working out. So if you struggle with clacking that keyboard on the days when you don’t feel like it and you fall back on the excuse that it’s just one of those days and maybe tomorrow will be better, this blog is for you.
The Build Up
In both writing and exercising, there will be days where we don’t feel like doing it. We may not be dreading it, but we also could come up with excuses to just try again tomorrow. On these days, it’s easy to procrastinate, designate it as an unplanned rest day, etc.
On these days, we approach working out with the mindset that we need to stay on our training plan or we think about how much it will benefit us in the long-term. We know that it’s important to keep momentum with the habit and also to keep the necessary muscles conditioned. So we commit to doing it anyways.
Writing is the same thing. As a writer, it’s easy to convince ourselves that we shouldn’t write if we’re not feeling creative. The problem is that one day could turn into many days. It’s important to stay disciplined. Just like working out, it’s necessary to stay in the habit and to continue to work that muscle. In the long-term, making the commitment pays off.
The Workout
Our shoes are laced up, and we start our warm-up. We jog a bit, stretch, and do some movement that gets our muscles and joints warmed up for the particular exercises we’ll be doing. We start our first set and realize, “Hey, I’m digging this.” Once we get into the flow of the workout, we often feel the joy of it. We feel strong and pick up momentum heading into the rest of the workout. Any thoughts of excuses float away.
Sitting down at our keyboard is no different. We grab our cup of coffee, turn on the computer, and open the blank canvas. We gather our thoughts and then start to put the words on the paper. One paragraph forms, then another. Soon, a whole section is done. Then, the ideas start to rush in, the structure comes together, and you’re in the flow. You can see the vision coming to life, and you’re so glad you started.
The After
You’re on your last set. You struggle to push and pull the weight. You know you’re almost done, and you’ve just got to see it through. You finish that last set and cool down. You sit there feeling awesome. Your muscles ache in the best way, you feel accomplished and fulfilled, and you know you just did something great for your body that your future self will thank you for.
In the same way…
You near the end of the chapter. Your brain is tired, but you just have one more section to go. You’re this far now, and you want to get it done. The ideas are fresh, the content is there. The words just need to get on the paper. You push through, finish your concluding paragraph, and scroll back to the top to admire the work you put in. The feeling afterwards is quite similar to completing a workout for me. I feel so accomplished, and I’m so happy I committed to getting done what I set out to do. My brain is tired, but my heart is happy. I know I completed something that my clients will love and that my future self will thank me for doing before I feel stressed and rushed.
If this resonates, I invite you to consider this metaphor the next time you just aren’t feeling it. Yes, we all need some downtime, and sometimes that night of horrible sleep necessitates a writing break the next day. But for the average day where you just aren’t feeling it, think about how it feels to rep out that last set and apply that to your writing. The process will be just the same, and the payoff will feel so good.
If you’d love to partner with a ghostwriter for your non-fiction book who balances discipline, structure, creativity, and fun, I’m your girl! Let’s chat in a free strategy session.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.