Comments on: Weekly Review: Goal revitalization time

By: zenhabits

zenhabits — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:17:31 +0000

@Balfour: oops! I’d never figured out if you were a guy or a girl, as you always sign yourself as Balfour. Sorry for making the wrong assumption.

@Kimi: No need to apologize for long comments … they are encouraged and appreciated here! I’m also an aspiring author (and yet have written too little fiction, actually … though I just completed my first novel last year) … so I know where you’re coming from. Be sure to join NaNoWriMo.org this coming November! It’s a blast. I think creating the habit of writing every day is a great goal … start out small, like 10-20 minutes each morning or evening (pick a time and stick to it), or 1-2 pages, or something like that. You can do it!

By: Kimi

Kimi — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:21:36 +0000

Hey there! I only recently started reading your blog. I love it and thank you for having it. I don’t know that I qualify to answer this post since I didn’t start in March with you, nor did I really make my goal choice until a week ago on my own. But I wanted to answer anyway cause I techniquely apply.

I have always wanted to be an author. Origionally I wanted to write historical romance. I got off that kick and in the last few years have become addicted to urban fantasy. I’ve written in some form or another be it online roleplaying games (Mushes) or on my blog but in the last week I decided to get serious again. I joined Romance Writers of America again since my urban fantasy will have some romantic theme and RWA is applicable as well as useful to me in other ways. I’ve started plotting the book I want to write. I’ve come up with a short story piece I am starting out on to get published to add to my resume when I queary an agent with my book. I’ve started reading writting, agent, and editors blog seriously (I recommend Miss Snark misssnark.blogspot.com) The only thing I haven’t done is sat my butt down and begun to write. So…here’s where I am going to start needing the motivation. :)

Sorry for the long comment. :)

By: Balfour

Balfour — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:08:39 +0000

Pondering whether to accept the “he” assignment, but have decided that no, I will be the real “she” that I am on this site.

meandering, maybe everyday of the month was too much too soon? I think I once had exercise exhaustion. But, it goes away fast with rest.

By: zenhabits

zenhabits — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:35:49 +0000

meandering … sorry to hear about your illness and setback … I empathize with you. Just keep your head up, look back on all the progress you made, and tell yourself that you’re just facing a little bump in the road. Just get right back on track once you’re over your illness … and I’ll do the same.

By: meandering

meandering — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:23:08 +0000

Yep, it’s problem time for me, too. I’ve been getting up early, staying off coffee and exercising every morning for roughly 30 days now. It’s been great so far. But suddenly, totally out of the blue, I get tired beyond belief and now I have a stinking cold, too.

This is the body taking revenge, sabotaging the good goal achievement. I am a great believer in “listening to the body” but can it not at least send a warning first?? ;-)

I guess Leo said it already. Don’t pay too much attention, keep the goals, just take a break. Annoying though it is.

Wasn’t it Gina Trapani who said in the interview here: “Without failure there’s no success.”?

Good luck to you all. You are all doing great!

By: zenhabits

zenhabits — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:47:51 +0000

As Balfour mentioned, we have been corresponding by email, and he’s been reporting his progress to me every day or two. He’s been doing fantastic, and I want to congratulate him on his success. He’s proven that habits can be changed … keep up the great work, Balfour!

By: Balfour

Balfour — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:09:22 +0000

I’m on target with my modest goal of quitting diet coke. One thing I did in week 1 was to switch to diet pepsi to break the brand addiction. This week, I’m having 1 diet Pepsi each day from Monday through Wednesday, then none through the weekend. Next week, 1 each on Monday and Tuesday and none through end of weekend. And then none at all, which I’m going to keep tracking, giving myself rewards for, and reporting in on. It’s been extremely helpful to check in by email with Leo.

By: zenhabits

zenhabits — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:08:52 +0000

Hi Kamal … the two most important things about creating a new habit: 1) practice, practice, practice without reproach and 2) always think positive. Creating new habits is a skill, and we can only learn it by practicing. Keep at it, and you’ll get better. But don’t expect perfection at first.

My suggestion is for you to start smaller … if your goal was to do an hour of exercise per day (for example), then shoot for just 20 minutes. That’s something you can accomplish, and if you’re successful, you can build from there. Next, re-commit yourself and start with a new 30-day challenge, starting tomorrow! There’s no shame in failure, as long as you learn from it and try again.

Good luck, my friend, and let me know if I can help! – leo

By: kamal

kamal — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 08:06:07 +0000

Well, I’ve crashed and burned so far. Unfortunately, not meeting my goal, which has me asking if it’s really that important to me, hence the lack of motivation.

By: zenhabits

zenhabits — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 07:40:16 +0000

Hi Doug … thanks for reporting in. It sounds like you’re both doing great! I know from (limited) experience that figuring out the ending is a huge step — congratulations! Let us know how it goes … are you going to submit the stories for publication? You could always just publish them here! :)

Great job on your goals, guys. Be proud of yourselves, and don’t forget to celebrate often! – leo