Mixing it up

Studies have shown that if you exercise the same way every time, your body will become accustomed to it and you won't continue to lose weight or get stronger. So you're supposed to psych your body out in ways that confuses it. This will help you burn more fat and tone up faster. For instance, at the end of my run, when I'm dying and I'm so tired that I can barely keep going, I turn the speed up on my treadmill to as fast as I can possibly go for the last couple of minutes.

You see, your body automatically thinks that because it's so tired, that you will slow down and/or stop. KAPOW! You turn it up and your body doesn't know what to think! But the amazing thig is that it will keep going! Who would'a thunk it? Can you believe that you have enough energy to boost your power like that? YOU DO! And you know what? It actually feels fantastic. It also raises your stamina level, which is amazing!

It's the same way with writing. Sometimes we get into slumps. It can almost feel boring, like work, feel . . . not fun anymore. I think it's because your brain is used to the way you do things. It starts to feel blah, blah, blah. You need to turn it up! Psych it out! Scare it!

I did this when I did the nanowrimo thingamajig. I wrote, full tilt and finished my novel in eleven days. Granted it wasn't fabulous, but now that I'm going back through it, and fixing it up, I'm absolutely amazed at how good it is. I think I may have a winner here. (but what author doesn't?)

The thing is, I did something different.

Now, just as with exercise, going faster isn't always what you need to do to break it up. Sometimes, you need to add hills. Sometimes you need to run up the hills and walk down the backside instead of vice versa. Sometimes you need to do squats and lunges or work on your gate. And every once in a while, you need to take a visit to the chiropractor to get straightened out (i.e conferences).

The point is this. Don't write the same way day in and day out. Mix it up. Listen to music sometimes. Write at night or in the morning sometimes. Do sprints without editing sometimes. Take days to do no writing at all. Live life sometimes. (Don't just write about it).

I have found that it keeps you happy, healthy and wanting to continue. Surround yourself with good friends who encourage you and remember, keep your chin up. Attitude is everything.