You can have all the marketing skills in the world, all the business skills, all the opportunities… but without the writing habit to actually produce the work, none of those things will help.

With that in mind, today I’ll share four simple observations about writing habits.

Observation #1: A habit helps ensure you get the work done.

A habit is just a mechanism that increases the likelihood you will do the work. There is nothing magical about it. It just helps ensure that the magic will happen.

But here’s the thing: you have to commit to the habit before the magic will happen. It’s just like digging a well. You have to put the work in before the water will flow.

The water is not going to magically flow to you… you have to give the water a pathway to flow to you, and a writing habit is that pathway.

Observation #2: A habit that works for someone else doesn’t always work for you.

There is a big danger in the writing world: we see what works for other people and we want to use it as a shortcut to our own success.

But it doesn’t really work that way. You have your own life, obligations, energy, and sense of flow. Seeing what works for others can be a guide for us, but it doesn’t always work to copy it outright.

That’s why you need to develop your writing habit that is specific to the time, location, and tools that you use to write.

Observation #3: A habit becomes more valuable the more it is integrated into your daily life.

It’s hard to establish a routine at first, but the more you stick with it to see what works, the more it will help you. Over time, a habit ceases to be a “habit” and instead becomes something that is ingrained into your identity.

The habit is part of who you are, not just something you do. The more this happens, the more valuable it becomes and the more it will give to you.

Observation #4: A routine takes time to establish.

Experts differ on how long it should take to establish a new habit. Some say 21 days, others say 30 days, and some say 40 or 60 days. No matter how you slice it, it’s going to take some time—a minimum of three or four weeks.

It’s important to understand going into it that you will be uncomfortable for a little while until the habit feels normal. But nobody ever became successful by being comfortable.

There you go: four observations about habits. Tomorrow, we’ll start diving into some specific ways to develop a writing habit that can change your life.

Question: Does the idea of building a new habit sound exciting or intimidating? Why?

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Are you having trouble writing? Do you feel like you can’t regain your focus? Do you feel short-tempered and irritable?  

When we feel this way, the first conclusion we jump to is that we have writer’s block or that we’re just not creative. But the problem could be much simpler than that.

Maybe you’re just tired. 

When your body doesn’t get enough sleep, you get irritable. Your brain doesn’t function as well. Your judgment starts to be compromised, and you certainly aren’t as focused, disciplined, or creative. 

Maybe you need the same thing that preschoolers need whenever they get cranky. It’s probably time for a nap. 

A lot of people assume that taking a nap is lazy, or it’s just something that kids do, but many of history’s greatest leaders and creative minds were famous nappers. John F. Kennedy, Leonardo da Vinci, Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan were all known to take regular naps. 

These leaders realized that they needed to be well-rested and alert to function at their best. 

I take a nap almost every day. I lean back in my office chair, put a small towel over my eyes to block out the light, set an alarm for ten or fifteen minutes, and then sail off to dreamland. 

Even if you don’t fall asleep, you will still benefit from taking a break and resting your body, mind, and spirit. 

The comedian, Ben Stein said, “Sleep more at night. If it’s allowed at work or home, take a nap in the afternoon. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel.” 

True words, for sure. If you’re feeling tired, don’t feel guilty about taking a nap. It is one of the most productive things you can do. 

The post You Might Just Need a Nap appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.