Do you find that there are certain times of the year when you feel more productive? Do you ever feel like George Bailey did in It’s a Wonderful Life–that you could lasso the moon given half the chance?
I think, for me, those times are probably the summer months. There are a lot more distractions (outdoor activities, weekend commitments, traveling, etc.), but I do tend to accomplish more during that season than any other.
Winter ushers in cold, nasty weather, shorter days, and less energy. There’s the hustle and bustle of the holidays, various family get-togethers, church events, and conference planning so I still remain very busy, but not necessarily more productive. It takes a lot of determination and self-discipline to make my hours count during the snowy, daylight-starved months.
For those in solitary professions (aka “writers”), we may feel a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of sitting at a desk (or laptop) day in, day out, with little interaction from the outside world. The darker days of winter may induce feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and defeat. It can become a study in drowning if we’re not careful.
I remember a time many years ago, when I felt at a crossroad in my writing pursuits. Life was a nonstop smorgasbord of school, work, appointments, and endless obligations. When I walked in the front door at night, I didn’t know how I’d get anything else done, much less have the physical strength to write.
(Add to that: it wasn’t as easy then. There was no internet, no smart phones, and none of the bells and whistles that we have at our fingertips today. One had to really be goal oriented and committed to the writing craft if publication was the eventual goal.)
The bottom line is I wrote. Despite exhaustion and outside influences, I wrote during every spare moment I could find.
If I took an occasional break at work, I’d sometimes pull out a little notepad and create fictional characters, dialogue, and scenes to alleviate tension from my high stress job. When I became a mom, I took advantage of naptimes, playdates, and park days to create. Over the course of a five-year period while our family lived in and out of hospitals, I even managed to plot a bit (though I did have to put the actual writing on hold at the time.)
I think the key to realizing our writing goals, or any goal for that matter, is consistency and perseverance. I believe the two are dependent upon each other. God’s desire for all of us is to realize our full potential, but we can’t just sit on the sidelines. We must be a willing participant.
There may be times that are more productive than others. It’s frustrating, disillusioning, and draining, but if we wait for circumstances to be ideal, those prequel moments to possible greatness are forever lost. God meets us right where we are–during the good and the bad and the in between seasons. One seemingly small thing that we accomplish today may make a huge difference in a divine appointment down the road.
To shrug off our cloaks of complacency isn’t the easy thing. It’s the brave thing. It’s the thing that will nudge us to aim higher, dream bigger, and rise beyond the bar. When doubts, self-comparison, and occasional missteps come calling, it can be an intense time of testing, but also a wondrous season of self-discovery and internal growth. We can’t measure our productivity by others’ success. That’s a distraction–a time stealer.
As you know and as I said here, writing is a solitary world. It’s easy to get drug down by the muck and mire of discouragement, perceived abandonment, comparisons, and self-doubt. But can I tell you something? Every writer has felt this way at one time or another. Wallow in it for a while if you must, but remember, those are stumbling blocks created by one who doesn’t have your best interest at heart.
Shake off illusions of failure. Don’t become daunted by less productive days. Refocus, refuel, and dust off defeat. See your vision. Act out your ministry. Get ready for success!
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How do you regroup during occasional off-seasons? What tips would you share today?
Comments 12
I love this title! Five years in and out of hospitals. That’s a long time. To regroup, I catch up the laundry, house-cleaning, so I can start fresh. Tip to share: I tend to work on some other creative effort for awhile. It’s amazing the things that pop into one’s head when quietly focusing on something else.
Author
Yes, sometimes refocusing on other things for awhile can give us the necessary drive to cruise full steam ahead (concerning our other goals). There’s nothing like having our “batteries” recharged, is there, Patti?
Inspiring post.
This post is timely for me. I worked hard all summer. I have my day job and my writing…not to mention everything else, family, friends, church, appointments, obligations…I felt like summer came and went in a blink.
Just when I thought I could take a break from the writing, I was hit with unexpected revisions. I’ve been up, down, and sometimes very lonely in the solitude of the writer’s world.
I’m almost through with the revisions. I’ll be done this Friday. Then I will take a short break – until the day after Thanksgiving…to rest and refuel. Then it will be back to starting a new writing project.
I did get a lot done this past summer – More than any summer. But I still prefer writing in winter. I just get more done.
I like what you said about shrugging off the cloaks….
Author
Loree, I could write the book on revisions. (No pun intended.) One thing that helps us stay centered, as writers, is mingling with other writers who can offer words of encouragement and positivity. That’s why writers’ organizations, critique partners, and conferences are so important.
And congratulations on meeting your writing goal! You have a right to feel proud!
“I think the key to realizing our writing goals, or any goal for that matter, is consistency and perseverance.” Amen to that. I’m more productive in the fall and winter when the kids are in school and I have plenty of day time without interruptions…at least from the kids! 🙂
Author
Yes, I remember all to well those endless days of interruptions, Jessica. I literally had to keep my goal in sight, and realize that even seasons change…
Kudos to you as you move ahead into YOUR season of productivity!
I’ve been forced to regroup recently. It’s a challenging process for me, but I trust I’ll end up with a more balanced lifestyle as a result. Change can be good. I keep telling set-in-my-ways me that. =)
Author
Right there with you, Keli. Change keeps us young!
Spot on, Cynthia, and just what I needed to hear. Consistency and perseverance are the areas in which I’m weak, so I’m working on that…always..working..on…that. 🙂
I tend to be an emotion-based person, but I’m learning that successful, committed writers overcome those those negative emotions and just WRITE. Such an easy sentence to type but so difficult to live out! 🙂
I hope you have a restful weekend!
Author
Kerry, we all struggle with those areas from time to time. The key is to find a bit of productive time in whatever season we’re in. We may not always be able to physically write, but using our imaginations and taking a note or two can help us feel a quiet sense of accomplishment.
And I think it’s so important to let yourself be less productive now and again. Not for long, mind you, but we all need recharging. How many times did Jesus go off by himself to pray?
Great point!