How to Stay Productive When You've Got the Winter Blues

When the weather gets colder and there's less sun, it can be very easy to fall into a slump. There's nothing wrong with feeling the urge to hibernate. But shorter days can bring challenges as well.

Here on the East Coast the weather gets cold  (though this year temperatures have been fluctuating quite a bit) and often the sky is cloudy. Dreary days with limited sunshine can affect my mood. And when I'm not feeling much energy, usually that means not a lot of writing gets done.

I’ve learned to compensate by doing healthy things to keep me going. Sometimes I have more energy and want to keep up the momentum. But when I don't, I try not to be hard on myself. 

If this is something you struggle with, here are some suggestions that might be helpful.

*Get a light that simulates sunlight (there are "sunset" lamps as well). A friend of mine recommended full-spectrum light bulbs which can be used in lamps or light fixtures. 

*Buy fresh flowers, prints or other items to add a touch of color to brighten up your home or workspace. 

*Exercise is a great way to lift your mood. If you can’t get outside as often, use online exercise videos or create your own exercise routine. Just do what works for you.

*Meditate to clear your mind and get focused. It might also help with story ideas!

One more thing: limiting your exposure to  negative environments (and negative people) can go a long way.  Even if your output slows down, be kind to yourself. Do the best you can for the time being. 

You can plan for slower times and set your writing deadlines accordingly. That way even if you're not in the mood to get a lot done, you'll still be on track. Do what works for you so that you can stay creative and productive during the winter season. 

Using Planners to Track Writing Goals

 When it comes to writing, it’s so easy to procrastinate. I’ll start when I have time, I’ll start after I've  taken that class, I’ll start after I: “fill in the blank.”  There’s always going to be another reason to delay.  

Over the years I’ve talked to many people who want to write. Usually as soon as someone learns that you're an author, they express their own desire to write. They feel they have a lot to say, yet they hesitate. What’s stopping them?

When it comes to my own writing, I’ve often asked myself the same question! Sure, there are times when life gets busy or other things come up. If you have health challenges or work and family responsibilities (or any other things to manage) finding time to write might seem like a luxury.

Now that we're only weeks away from a new year, it's easy to look back on what wasn't accomplished over the past months. But that's not helpful at all. So what's a better idea?

Lately I've been trying out planners to stay organized. Too often I end up writing down ideas on stray pieces of paper. Or writing a few things in the Notes app on my phone. That doesn't work because I usually end up forgetting all about those notes. 

Though I like the feel of using a pen on paper, I've been experimenting with digital planners as well. Both print and digital planners are extremely popular, so you'll have a huge selection to choose from. 

There are even YouTube channels where planner collectors will show off their latest planners and accessories. I'm not at that point yet - and most likely won't ever be. But you don't have to become a planner expert or be perfect at planning. When it comes to tracking ideas and publication dates, even a basic journal will do. Just do what works best for you. 

As far as print planners, lately I've been using the Passion Planner. They come in different sizes and include pages for personal development as well as tracking your schedule. 

For digital planning, two that I've been trying out are Goodnotes and Notability. You can use the templates included, or buy them (along with digital stickers). I'm not sure that an digital planner is the best for me just yet, though it would be handy. 

My hope is that with my print and digital planners, I can keep track of my writing and stick to deadlines. Of course procrastination doesn't completely go away. But if I can make planning fun, instead of being a chore, it will be a big help. 

 

Lessons Learned from National Novel Writing Month

Many of you may be familiar with National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo). I’ve rambled on about it time and again. 

But if you haven’t heard, each November writers try and write 50,000 words toward a novel. 

As #NaNoWri has evolved, there are many different versions so goals can be attainable for kids as well. I’ve participated for many years. The first few years I didn’t even come close, but once I won, I wanted to have that feeling of accomplishment every year. 

Because NaNoWri is about more than just writing 50,000 words, it’s about discovering just what you’re capable of if you apply yourself to a goal. Some of the lessons I’ve learned from NaNoWriMo can be applied to each day or month of the year.

 

Find Support & Accountability

We all have lofty goals that seem almost unattainable. Sometimes we may call them dreams and feel as if they are things we can only wish for. Although there are some things that are within our control if we apply ourselves and find the support to keep us accountable. Even if we are only accountable to ourselves. 

• Goals are met through babysteps. I don’t sit down on November 1^st thinking that I'll write 50,000 words. If I did, I’d probably be completely overwhelmed and quit before I got started. Instead, I plan to write at least 1,667 words each day. That’s an attainable goal for me. Even if I break it into 2 writing periods during the day to get there with smaller steps. Those little steps add up. 

• Announce your goal to others, or find someone who will be your cheerleader to keep you accountable. Even if it’s making your own chart and watching the numbers grow. Your goals and dreams are most important to you, so nurture them.

These tips can be applied to new habits, or working toward any dream. One day at a time. To reference one of my favorite quotes, 

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” – John Quincy Adams

Practice Productivity 

There are many distractions in life, and especially on the internet, that can make a task take much longer than necessary. Find your focus and set a time to work on a task, and a goal of when to finish. You might discover that you can complete it much quicker than you realized. 

Some people practice specific techniques to increase productivity, but only you can determine what works for you. I've used these productivity techniques throughout the year.

• Pomodoro Technique – Setting a time for a specific time frame (usually 25 minutes) and working with five minute breaks between sets.

• Sprints- are particularly popular for NaNoWriMo and effective for me. Choose a time frame and race against the clock to get as much done as possible. Whether it’s writing words, completing chores, or other tasks. 

• Find your Magic – for me I know that I have to organize my desk and clear out most of my emails to be able to focus and be more productive. Otherwise, I’m distracted. Determine what helps you focus. It may be a certain space in your home, a certain time of day, or creating a relaxing atmosphere.

My NaNoWri Novel

I won NaNoWri again this year. That doesn’t mean I have a complete book ready to go. It means it’s in an ugly draft form, and it needs many more words, and a whole lot of editing to be complete. But I have 50,000 words to a brand new story that I didn’t have a month ago. 

Plus, I know that several of these ugly drafts have later been released to the world as my book babies. I still have 3 NaNoWri winners in draft, but here are a few of my former NaNoWri winners now available in print.

Chance Taken -2014 Winner renamed as Not a Chance

For The Love of Grandma -2013 Winner renamed Grandma Must Die 

See No Evil- 2012 Winner renamed Evil Speaks Softly 

Do You Have Any Productivity Tips to Share?

A Few Chances to Win a Gift for Yourself This Holiday

It seems that when I start holiday shopping, that’s when I find things I want for myself, but I feel guilty because I should be buying for others. Here are a few contests that you can enter to try to win a guilt-free prize for yourself.

 

Hurry- this contest wraps up Today- December 5^th

 Your chance to win a Kindle Fire 7 Tablet- $25 worth of ebooks from Amazon (winner’s choice, up to 5 total books) - $20 Amazon gift card- $15 worth of ebooks from Amazon (winner’s choice, up to 3 total books)- $10 Amazon gift card Check it out Right Here

Make Your Month More Merry 

Enter for your Chance to win a kindle fire or echo dot Right Here

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook& Twitter

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