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Who said all multi-tasking is bad?
Okay, if you've been listening to the news at all...or even to my dear friend The Happy Writer, you know that multi-tasking as not nearly as effective as we once believed. Apparently when you aren't giving your full attention to something it takes longer to do.
Imagine that.
But the last few days I've been testing out a new theory. This theory is that not all multi-tasking is bad. For example, putting on your favorite dance music while cleaning can, in fact, make things better. Alas, I'm not hear to talk about how to make your daily household chores more palatable. Instead I'd like to talk to you about how you can improve your writing while exercising.
I know, the two are pretty much mutually exclusive, unless you have one of those fancy writing treadmill desks (which, fyi, I want...I'm just sayin'). We all know that turning up the volume on faced paced music can not only get us moving faster, but it can also provide incentive to get our buts on that treadmill or elliptical machine.
The other day, rather than turn on the tunes when I started my weight routine, I decided to turn on a workshop from RWA '11. I ordered the CDs over the summer, and I've had them downloaded to my iPod for months. But had I listened to a single one yet? Of course not. Who has the time?
Except I did. Sort of. I'm doing my weight routine twice a week now. It takes between 30-45 min. to complete. That's 30-45 min. I could spend listening to a workshop (almost all of which are under an hour). So I decided to give it a try. I've now worked through three different sessions, and I have to admit this may be my new thing. First of all, I'm not getting tired of my music. Second of all, because I don't have to "think" as much when I'm doing my weight routine, I can pay attention to the workshop. And since I'm not walking or ellipticalling (is that even a word?), I don't have to worry about my pace.
It's a win-win I figure. So here's my weekly challenge to you: find time to perfect your craft in a way that is non-writing related. Listen to a workshop at the gym. Go for a walk with a friend and brainstorm your heart out. But do something different.Labels: healthier mind, healthier you
Take time, take 2
A couple of months ago I talked about taking care of yourself. In the past, this concept has mostly fallen by the wayside in the fall when I start back at work. I find that I'm often working longer hours during that time. Add in time with friends and family (relaxing), and that leaves less time for actually taking care of myself. In this case, I'm talking about things like getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising often enough. Let's face it, it's easy to let these three things slide. We want to see friends so we go out to dinner. Mamma Mia is on t.v. so we stay up late on a work-night to watch it. Since we went out to dinner with our friend, and because we're tired, we skip the gym.
They add up.
This year I challenged myself to not fall down that path. I challenged myself to get my 8 hours of sleep a night, to not eat out as much, and to keep up with my exercise. It's not always easy, and takes a lot of planning. And let's face it, most night it's more like 7 or 7.5 hours. I'm still seeing friends and family, just not as frequently. Instead, I'm making myself a priority.
The funny thing about it? My friends totally get it. I thought they'd feel left behind, or upset that they didn't see me enough. Instead? They are either looking for activities we can do together that let me get my workouts in (hike anyone?) or they're meeting me for a quick coffee instead of a full meal. It takes a little less time, but let's me still get to meet up with my friends.
So I challenge you: put yourself first. Put your writing, your body, your needs first. Believe it or not? Those who love you will be more supportive than you think. And you will reap the benefits.Labels: healthier mind, healthier you
Meditation
Okay, raise your hand if you can successfully meditate for more than 10 minutes at a time? If you're like me, your hand is down in your lap and you're currently glancing awkwardly around the room. Meditation and I are not friends in the strictest meaning of the word. Don't get me wrong, I've tried. I've tried so many times I should get a gold star for effort. I've taken meditation classes, yoga classes, I've listened to CDs and videos online.
I sometimes feel I've tried it all, and failed.
And as you all know, I don't take failure lightly.
But while taking with my good friend The Happy Writer, I realized something (as I often do after talking with friends). I realized that I actually do meditate, in my own way. It's just that others may not see it as meditation. I meditate by getting out of my own head. I go for a swim, or a walk, or a bike ride. I put on my headphones and I just move. I listen to the music instead of my own thoughts, and when those thoughts intrude, I take them in, then move on. I don't dwell in them, but let them flit in and out.
Most important, I find that when I come home, I'm ready to face whatever it is I need to face. I'm ready to write, or deal with work. I can think more clearly.
So for those of you who find traditional meditation too difficult, give it a try. Let me know what you think. Labels: healthier mind, healthy writer
I challenge you...
I challenge you to try something new. Take up a new sport, try a different genre of books or music, go see a drama if you're more of a comedy type person. Break out of your mold and expand your horizons.
You may even find that you like it.
 Here's the reasoning though...We get so stuck in our day to day life that they become routine. We forget to marvel at the simple pleasures in our life any more because they are no longer "special." The simple act of trying something new can reawaken your love for the old.
Not to mention it opens your brain and can reawaken those stubborn creativity muscles. How many days have we sat down at the computer and stared at it blankly wishing for divine intervention? Well, sometimes you have to help the old muse along. Muses are fickle. They don't like to be bored. If you want their help, you have to pay it forward.
So step outside the box. Try something new, then come back and tell me all about it.Labels: healthier mind
Taking care of you...
As a writer we are in complete control of our characters. Yes, they may have minds of their own. Yes, they may travel down paths that lead to a dead end, causing you to backtrack (read: erase) many pages. But ultimately, we're the one really in control.
The same is true for ourselves. We are in control. We choose to get up and face the day with a positive attitude or as if we're walking to the guillotines. We choose to eat five brownies or one apple. We choose to lay on the couch all day or to go for a walk in the sunshine.
We choose.
It's so simple really. We make choices all the time. So why is it we so rarely make the choice to take care of ourselves? To put ourselves first?
Part of being a healthy writer is knowing when to put yourself first. You need to know when to refill the well. The how is up to you. But in order to be any good to anyone, you have to take care of YOU. It's hard. We have family and friends, husbands and children. We have work and after school activities. It's easier to say, "Sure! I'll come out to (fill in the blank)," because we haven't seen our third cousin twice removed's daughter's son in eight years. We want to spend time with these people. But be careful because that dinner date (or coffee date, or play date, or...well, you get the drift) doesn't always refill the well. Instead, it more often than not adds to the stress.
So take a moment today. Think about what you need to do to take care of you. Then schedule it. If you don't, the opportunity will slip through your fingers.Labels: healthier mind, healthier you
Why exercise?
Most of us seem to fall in to one of two camps: you either love exercise and do it willingly, or else you hate it and do it grudgingly. I fall somewhere in between the two. I used to hate exercise. I did it because I had to, and only when I had to. It was a means to lose weight, that's about it.
In the last year or so, I've finally come to view exercise as something different: it's a stress reliever. I don't think most of us realize this.
Exercise serves many purposes. Yes, it can help you to lose weight, or maintain a weight loss. But it has an even greater purpose: your mind. See, exercise increases blood flow everywhere, especially to your brain. The more blood flows to your brain, the better your brain can work.
It's that simple.
They've done many studies on this. One recent study by the National Institute of Health has recently released a study that shows a connection between exercise and lower rates of Dementia. Dr. John Medina has written an entire book on how the brain works, and devotes an entire chapter of to exercise and movement.
Exercise also helps to relieve stress. And yes, I realize many of us connect exercise with adding more stress, but the fact is, getting up and moving around will actually help to lower your stress level. For me, it's become what keeps me sane (or saner, according to my husband).
So here's my challenge to you (because exercise does not need to be horrible and painful), take a walk. That's it. Take a walk, once a day for 20 min. Or twice a day for 10. Or four times a day for 5. You get the picture. Get up and move! You may just come back with a great new idea. Labels: healthier mind, healthier you
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