Sometimes in life, you just have to give in. Cave. Tuck tail. Throw in the towel. Surrender. Raise the white flag. The last part of the week was a bit like this for me. I don’t mean this to sound negative, on the contrary. I learned a great deal about my motivation and my writing habits this week, all thanks to KonMari, ROW80, and good ole procrastination…productive procrastination.
NOTE: If you aren’t familiar with the KonMari Method, or Marie Kondo – the creator of KonMari, it is a tidying and decluttering journey where you are encouraged to keep only what sparks joy.
Introspection:
- Giving in to my desire to declutter and organize helps me focus on my writing – even just one little thing like a drawer or a bookshelf.
- Procrastination isn’t always bad. If something is on my mind I am better off setting a timer and doing it rather than trying to write distracted.
- ROW80 encourages me to be accountable for my writing, without it I wouldn’t have made the connection between writing, decluttering, and productive procrastination. Not in a million years!
- If I don’t read or listen to a book for at least an hour a day my writing suffers. Writers should be the biggest readers. Period.
- I am happier and more content when I write, even when I have to dictate it – nothing beats the feeling of new words on the page, no matter how they get there!
- Everyone is happier when I’m not yelling about how messy the house is…
Accomplished:
- Dictated 1 full chapter
- Typed half of another chapter (still getting hung up with my inner editor when typing)
- Words this week: 6,987 (just for the manuscript)
- Worked on the aesthetic graphic for the new chapter
- Signed up for a webinar on editing
- Plotted a new twist…it struck when I was decluttering and gave me chills!
- Decluttered my dresser, entire bathroom, two linen closets, bedroom bookshelf, Evie’s dressers, guest bedroom and bathroom, kitchen towels, and entire pantry
- Spent a whole day with friends – it had been too long!
- Canceled subscriptions that had forgotten about
- Set the household budget for the next month
- Got through all the laundry…not that it ever REALLY ends
- Cleaned out my email (thanks to the app Chuck!)
- Consolidated ALL my calenders – all 7 of them
- Got a headstart on correspondence for the upcoming week
- Planned all our meals
- Accomplished all homeschool goals with the kids
- Cleaned the house top to bottom
- Read/listened to 3 books
- No television or podcasts
- Hosted a family dinner for 10 of us
Overall, I’m happy with what I accomplished this week. With so many meetings/appointments, family coming into town, and my sudden urge to declutter on top of our normal craziness, I was worried, but it all got done. I’m excited to see what the new week has in store and what I can accomplish with a few curveballs thrown my way. Here’s to “giving in” and accomplishing more than planned!
It’s official, 2019 is my year of writing scared!!! This may seem an odd thing to be excited about, but there it is. I’m ecstatic! So, why write scared? It’s more of a promise to myself than actual fright, even if there IS some level of hesitation rolling through me. It’s about pushing limits, trying new things, and owning what my mind creates.
A Crazy Joyful Life 