BEATING THE WINTER BLUES

Lately I have been feeling a little bit down in the dumps. I’m right in the middle of several different projects, so going out-of-town isn’t an option at this time. But I began to do some thinking about ways I could “escape” without going anywhere.

To go on a retreat usually conjures up images of remote, sometimes exotic, locations for anywhere from a weekend to a month. When we can’t afford the time away, or the cost, we can still derive some of the benefit by finding ways in our everyday lives to retreat and renew. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Abstain from speaking. Silence leads to inwardness, even in the midst of family life. 
   
   
2. Fast for a day or three. Fasting reminds us of the bounty of food available to us. It also lets the body rest from the busy-ness of digesting.
   
   
3. Spend a day in the garden. Or the container pots. Or a community garden. Anything to get your hands in the earth. 
   
   
4. Go for a hike. Even an hour of one-on-one time with Mother Nature can reap huge relaxation dividends. 
   
   
5. Lie in bed reading—all day! Can you say, “Ultra-nourishing?”
   
   
6. Do a media fast for a week. Turn off all input—TV, radio, stereo, newspaper, Internet, videos, books—and see what insights “tune in.”
   
   
7. Get a massage in your home. Follow that with down-time and the R&R is complete.
   
   
8. Take a long, hot bath. Candlelight, bath salts and wine optional. 
   
   
9. Spend a day doing what you love, not what you must. Paint, poke around the architectural salvage yard, take a book to the park—anything but what’s on your to-do list.
   
   
10. Take a nap. These are especially delicious when strategically placed in the middle of a hectic day.

You may want to use these ideas, but more importantly, begin to create a list of your own ways to retreat and beat the winter blues!

Take good care, 

 

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ATTUNING YOUR VISION

Happy New Year! 

It’s been a little over a week since the beginning of the New Year. Did you make any resolutions?

Whether or not you have actually gotten a start on those resolutions, this month we’ll look at getting clear on what you want in the year ahead and why it’s so helpful to do so. 

You’ve probably heard of the business school study in which those graduates who wrote down their goals earned ten times more than those who did not.  Even if increasing your earning capacity doesn’t motivate you, imagine how it would feel to increase the likelihood of achieving your goals by simply writing them down.

You’ll need to begin with a vision, a picture of what it is you want.  Let’s say this is the year you are really going to get fit. You really are going to improve your diet, start a regular exercise plan, and get more sleep.

Where do you start?

First of all, find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted for several minutes.  Now, settle down, get quiet and let your imagination run wild.  Even if you don’t know exactly what you’ll be doing, imagine the feeling of it.  Imagine waking up in the morning, feeling rested and energetic. Imagine getting more done during the day. Imagine sustaining that energy all day. next day. Focus on the sense of well-being, really feel it in your body.

Next, gather some magazines you no longer need.  Flip through and find pictures and words representing the images and feelings you’ve envisioned. Add photos or objects. Now, put it all together by making a collage. Be outlandish.  Go for it.  Simply glue or attach the pictures, photos and objects to a large piece of paper in a way that pleases you. You are literally creating a picture of your future. 

Now, you have a vision and a physical picture as well.  Take your journal and write down what you see.  Again, pay attention to the positive feelings you are generating in your body. Write those down, too. 

Feel free to add to, change or expand this project.  Once you have one goal in place, try it again with something else. For example, imagine finally taking care of all the little projects around your apartment or house. Imagine how good it would feel to have all those nagging little things off your mind. Again, find pictures and words that represent the feelings you would like to have. Create a collage or artistic display of the images.

Notice what happens as you clarify your vision and goals and write them down, and keep the vision in front of you.

Have fun!

All good wishes for a healthy and happy New Year,

 

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PRACTICE MAKES IMPERFECT

No, that’s not a typo.  I did mean to say practice makes imperfect.  This month’s article explores the advantages of learning to do things less than perfectly. 

As writers, artists and creative people many of us get caught up in the belief that it only “counts” if our work is perfect.  With full calendars and pages of To Do lists, the holiday season is a great time to challenge that belief. 

Think about it.  How many things in your life actually need to be done perfectly?  With the exception of maybe brain surgery, not all that many.  That’s not an excuse to do sloppy work, but an invitation to look more closely at what you are trying to accomplish, what’s important to you and how you want to spend your time.

Look at your current to do or task list.  How many things on the list need to be done perfectly?  Buy milk at the store?  Buy wrapping paper?  Return a phone call?  Address envelopes?

Below are three ways to practice imperfection----and get things done!

START, DON’T STOP

Try this.  Make a quick list of all of the projects, tasks, and work you haven’t even started because you thought you couldn’t do it perfectly.  Think about the novel you’ve envisioned for years but haven’t started because you needed to take one more writing class.  Or the journal project you promised yourself you would begin five years ago, but you didn’t have just the right journal to get started.  Keep the list handy so you are aware each time you stop yourself from starting.

“GET BY” LIST

Take five minutes and make a list of everything you can think of that you need to do in the next week that doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to get done.  Use the list to remind yourself that done is better than perfect.  Sometimes to just “get by,” is really all you need to do.  For example, you might need to wrap holiday gifts.  Do the best you can to get by.  You need to send greeting cards.  Set a timer and challenge yourself to get done, rather than write the perfect message.

EAT AN ELEPHANT

You know the old joke, “How do you eat an elephant?”  The answer, of course, is one bite at a time.  Think about a project you know you have been delaying or avoiding.  You know what they are---cleaning out a closet shelf, writing a proposal, studying for a test.  Let’s say you have promised yourself to write a story for your young niece this year.  Take out your calendar or Blackberry and right now, note when you will begin the draft of your story. Then note when you will finish the draft.  Next note when you will begin editing the story.  Do the project one bite at a time. 

Imagine the personal and professional benefits if you were able to get to more of the tasks you need to do as well as the unfinished writing and creative projects in your life, finished.  Remember, done may be better than perfect!

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season!

If you find you could use some help getting organized, schedule a GRATIS SAMPLE COACHING SESSION via phone or in person to find out if writing & creativity coaching is for you.

Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

Take good care,

 

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GET YOUR WRITING ORGANIZED!

I used to think of the creative process as a wild and free flowing event, an artist covered in paint, a writer with ink-stained fingers and hair in a tangle, a furrowed brow, or a figure draped over a typewriter, pounding madly. I want my writing to come from a deep place, sometimes even mysterious and dark. I want to type with fervor in a grand hotel like Jack Nicholson’s character in “The Shining” (but having a way better outcome)!

I’ve noticed for the most part however, a strange and curious thing about the creative process. What I’ve become aware of, although drawn to these dramatic images of the creative person at work, is how very ordinary the creative process usually is. I’ve also noticed that my most creative work usually comes from a beginning place of order rather than chaos, artistic or otherwise.

At times it has struck me odd and counterintuitive that the beginning task of the creative process is often one of cleaning up or creating order.I simply do better, write better and feel better when I’m more organized. It’s taken me a long time to realize this and I by no means have gotten this all together. But I have learned some things I’d like to share with you. Here are five tips for getting your writing and creative work organized.

CLEAR YOUR WRITING OR CREATIVE SPACE:

Even if you have piles of papers to file, sort or process, clear your immediate working area. Give yourself the gift of clear working space. Remove everything from your desk, table or work surface that you don’t need. Keep only necessary tools (pen, paper, journal, computer), a few well-chosen inspirational objects (pictures, framed quotes, rocks or shells) and a beverage. Try it and notice how you feel without the visual distractions pulling your attention away.

DEVELOP AN EASY TO USE FILING SYSTEM:

This is a critically important issue for writers and other creative people because we tend to accumulate so much “stuff.” David Allen, author of Getting Things Done suggests a filing method that uses one simple alphabetical system for all reference material. He suggests printed labels on file folders because they are clear, easy to read, help you find what you’re looking for and re-file folders you’ve used.

DO IT YOUR WAY: 

At one point or another, you’ll have to go through and process whatever piles have accumulated. Since for most creative people, creating is lots more fun than organizing, you’ll want to find a way to get to your organizational tasks with the least amount of resistance. Try sorting your papers in a room with a nice view. Listen to upbeat music while you work. Set a timer and stick with it for half and hour and then reward yourself with a phone call to a friend or reading a few pages of a mystery. Set the timer again and do one more sprint for the day.

SYSTEMATICALLY SCHEDULE TIME:

As creative people we tend to think we don’t have time to organize. That combined with not enjoying the process can make organizing a low priority task. You’ll need to schedule time to organize like you do appointments, meetings and other commitments. Start slowly. Can you schedule ten minutes today to begin to file, sort or process whatever is most needing to be looked at? Good! Now just schedule ten minutes more for tomorrow. Notice how you feel when you keep this commitment to yourself.

GET INSPIRED TO GET ORGANIZED:

I watch, listen for, read about and borrow ideas about organizing from other people all the time. Look for others who are organized in the way you would like to be and ask them for suggestions. There are also several useful books on getting organized.  Here are some of my favorites:

• Organizing From the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
  
• Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
  
• It’s Hard to Make a Difference When You Can’t Find Your Keys (I love this title!) by Marilyn Paul

Getting and staying organized is an ongoing job. It is also critical if you are seriously committed to your creative work. If you think you could use some help, let’s talk.

If you find you could use some help getting organized, schedule a GRATIS SAMPLE COACHING SESSION via phone or in person to find out if writing & creativity coaching is for you.

Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

Take good care,

 

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IS DISORGANIZATION HOLDING YOU BACK?

Recently, a creative, bright client of mine came in and sheepishly introduced a topic she had been avoiding for weeks.   

“I’m out-of-control,” she began.  “I feel so silly and embarrassed, really ashamed.”  She continued, “I have everything going for me, no complaints except…” She paused, took a deep breath and finally blurted out what she had been struggling with.  “I’ am utterly and completely disorganized.  It’s so overwhelming, I don’t know where to begin.”

My client is not alone.  Many creative people I know struggle with staying organized. Your degree of organization (or lack of it) can significantly influence your lifestyle and quality of life.  Yet, it can be a difficult topic to discuss, much less ask for help.

Here are some beginning areas to consider in assessing the disorganization in your life:

• In What Specific Ways is Disorganization Holding You Back?  It can be painful to look at, but over the next few days, begin to list the ways in which your lack of organization makes your life difficult:

• Do you run late for appointments, meetings and dates with others?
• Do you have trouble locating important documents, bills or even your keys?
• Does your lack of organization cause you to feel pressured and stressed?
• Does your lack of organization impact your relationships with others?
• Does disorganization impact your writing and creative life?

• What Parts of Your Life are Organized?  We tend to think of organization in black and white terms.  Almost no one is completely organized or completely disorganized.  List the areas of your life that are organized and see what you can learn from this.  Consider your writing and creative projects, desk, car, closet and even your refrigerator.

• Begin to Imagine What it Would Feel Like to Take Control and Get Organized. Once you have determined how disorganization is holding you back and the areas in which you actually are organized, spend some time visualizing living as completely organized a life as possible.  Visualize and imagine:

• What would your new organized life look like?
• What would your ideal organized life feel like?
• What do you imagine would happen to your creative spirit if you were more organized?

• Becoming Organized is a Process.  In reality, the areas of your life that are less organized than you would like, didn’t get that way overnight.  Be gentle with yourself as you explore the changes you would like to make.  To make changes and move toward greater organization will happen one small step at a time.

Next month we’ll continue to look at ways to get more organized and the impact it will have on your writing and creative life.  Stay tuned!
All best to you,


 

If you could use some help getting organized, schedule a GRATIS SAMPLE COACHING SESSION via phone or in person to find out if writing and creativity coaching is for you. Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

Please jump in and respond on this blog, by clicking the green 'Comments' link just below.

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P.S. Remember, if you haven’t done so before, take advantage of our Complimentary Coaching Consultation and we'll talk about what you need to get a better balance of work and play in your life.  Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more. 

HELP! I’VE GOTTEN OFF TRACK

If the summer months have led you slightly off-course from your personal writing practice, now is a great time to re-focus.

But how do you get back on track?How do you manage to get back to your creative work?  How do you begin to return to your daily journal entries?

Free Form is a tried and true method to re-connect when you’ve gotten lost, stuck, or temporarily de-railed from your writing or creativity goals.

• First, find a time that you will be uninterrupted for a brief period.  Set a watch, clock or kitchen timer for 10 – 15 minutes.  Or, if you prefer to write via word count, commit to one typed page, two hand-written pages or approximately 250 words.
  
  
• Free Form writing can be done anytime and anywhere. All you need is your journal or a notebook and a pen.
  
  
• Next, start writing! Write what’s on your mind, what you notice, how your body feels, how you have no idea what to write about. Or write to answer the question, “What’s happening right now?” or “What do I need right now?"
  
  
• Follow this rule: Keep writing. Other than that, there are no rules. Don’t even think about syntax, grammar or punctuation. Creative spelling is encouraged. This does not have to be a finished piece of writing. It is only a starting point.
  
  
• Finally, keep at your Free Form practice for several days in a row.  Like kindling on a campfire, soon the sparks will ignite and in no time you will have a roaring creative fire!

Write to me at susan@susanborkin.com and let me know what happened!

Take good care,

If you could use some help getting back on track, schedule a GRATIS SAMPLE COACHING SESSION via phone or in person to find out if writing and creativity coaching is for you.

Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

 

Please jump in and respond on this blog, by clicking the green 'Comments' link just below.

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P.S. Remember, if you haven’t done so before, take advantage of our Complimentary Coaching Consultation and we'll talk about what you need to get a better balance of work and play in your life.  Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more. 

AIN’T NO CURE FOR THE SUMMERTIME BLUES

You might remember a song called “Summertime Blues,” written and recorded by Eddie Cochran and later recorded by Alan Jackson. The lyrics tell the story of a teenager bemoaning his plight---having to work at a summer job.  The catchy refrain is of course; “Ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling a bit of the summertime blues the last few days as I realize how quickly the summer seems to have flown by! 

I invite you to join me and shake off the summertime blues. Get creative with these last few weeks of summer before school starts and fall programs begin. 

Grab your journal to make notes and find a quiet, private spot.  Then try these three ways to savor what remains of these precious summer days.

SAVOR THE MEMORY

When you’ve settled in, close your eyes and take several deep breaths.  Let your breathing slow and deepen.  Now, remember three absolutely favorite moments of the summer so far. 

One of mine was watching my grandsons play with a Lego set with intense concentration and total involvement in their task.  What do you remember?  A walk on the beach as a cold wave lapped at your ankles?  Cotton candy at a state fair tasting just as good as you remembered it from childhood?  Pause, remember and make some notes.

SAVOR THE PRESENT

Today, right now, stop whatever you are doing (even reading this article!)  What are you aware of?  What do you notice as you look around?  What do you see that brings you pleasure?

I’m sitting in my office as I write this, a Steven Halpern CD, in the background.  I stop for a moment and let the music wash over me; hearing each individual instrument and the harmony as the sounds meld.  I smile as I look more closely at a portrait on a wall calendar, seeing details in the picture I never noticed before.  Stay present with your experience.  Then, make some notes.

SAVOR THE FUTURE

As you settle, become more relaxed and take a couple of deep breaths, use your imagination and think of something coming up in the near future.  Are you going camping in the woods next weekend?  Are you anticipating an exceptionally mouth-watering meal?

As I close my eyes, I think about getting back to a laugh out loud book I have been reading.  I think of the farmer’s market I’ll shop at in a few days and the taste of ripe strawberries.  Write down what you anticipate and increase the depth of your savoring.

You get the idea.  So, is there a cure for the summertime blues?  Try savoring your experiences---before, after and during.  It’s practically guaranteed to cure the summertime blues!

Take good care,

If you could use some help with a creative project, schedule a GRATIS SAMPLE COACHING SESSION via phone or in person to find out if writing and creativity coaching is for you.

Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.

 

Please jump in and respond on this blog, by clicking the green 'Comments' link just below.

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P.S. Remember, if you haven’t done so before, take advantage of our Complimentary Coaching Consultation and we'll talk about what you need to get a better balance of work and play in your life.  Phone (800) 552-WRITE, that's (800) 552-9748 or write to me at susan@susanborkin.com to find out more.