Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Balancing Act: How to Keep Those Plates Spinning

By Seekerville blogger Ruth Logan Herne

Okay, I did a switch up for today.

I blame the farm.



It's just so busy right now, and that's a good thing, but I wanted to do an #ownvoices post for September, but I didn't have time to follow up on my contacts with authors of color, so I'm doing that now, and we'll talk about that in October. Which means I'm switching October's post about how to balance those plates we're given in life and keep them spinning with as little breakage as possible.

It's not easy.

You can quote me on that.

First, if you're a woman, you probably don't have a wife. Most likely no one is going around picking up laundry and delivering it to your drawer, freshly washed, folded and put away. There may be someone making meals, but it's probably an 80% chance that they are not. :) You are probably doing dishes, most likely working a job, and depending on age, taking care of aging parents, running kids and grandkids to school, games, meets, dance class, study sessions, church, youth group, volunteer places, doctors, dentists, etc.

It is quite possible that you do most of the shopping, gift buying, gift organizing, party and holiday planning, set up and clean up.


Are you tired yet?

The good Lord gave us 24 hours in a day. Plus a smidge that we tuck into place every four years.

How do we make 24 hours work for us, not against us?

Habit.

Habits can be our blessing or our downfall. The ability to create a habit is inherent. We train ourselves to do a lot of things habitually. If the waste company is coming on Tuesday, you put out the trash on Monday night. If the post office closes at 5:30 PM, you get your mail there by 5:25 so you don't miss it. If your child is slow to get going in the morning, you wake that one up fifteen minutes earlier than necessary to build a window of time.

Habits can make us or break us. You've heard us talk about 1K/1HR. That's a writing habit that encourages one thousand words a day in a one-hour time period. There's a Facebook group you can join and there was a Twitter group developed by author Donna Alward. A bunch of us in Seekerville are part of the Facebook group. For aspiring authors, that's a great habit, because it prioritizes your writing. When you're still uncontracted, it's easy to view your writing as a hobby instead of a job.

That's a Real Bad Habit because when that "call" comes, you want to be in the habit of getting things done. Meeting expectations. Delivering. Because if you're not in that mode, there are literally hundreds of folks in line, waiting to take your place.

Four authors recently received The Call from Love Inspired as a result of a contest... I cannot stress enough how important it is to be ready when that phone rings.

Developing daily habits helps me. My early rising time is devoted to writing and marketing. I adopted that mode because I'm a total jerk at night. When I'm  tired, I'm snarky!!!! Snarky is not how I want my stories to come out, so my biologically-driven writing time is morning.

Then the work day begins and if I can get back to writing (winter!) I do it, but during farm season I have to put on other hats.

Monkeys can be trained to do all kinds of things.

So can we! :)

If you're visually inclined, plot out a daily schedule and keep to it.

If you're self-disciplined, plan your day but leave a margin for error.

One thing I do that is a HUGE HELP is to work ahead of the calendar. To get work done early, pre-deadline, because I don't do panic mode.

If there's a family emergency, I don't want to be deadlocked or nervous about getting my work done. It it's already done, I've built myself a time cushion and can attend to the emergency with full attention. Driving yourself crazy isn't the result of unforeseen circumstances. It's often the result of not preparing for the fact that unforeseen circumstances happen to everyone ALL THE TIME... and if we don't prep for them, that's on us.

Altius, Citius, Fortius.

Higher. Faster. Stronger. It's part of an athlete's creed passed down from the earliest Greek and Roman Olympians. It's simply about holding ourselves to a higher standard.



There's an old running adage that goes something like this: "If you take a day off, no one notices. If you take two days off, you'll notice. If you take three days off, everyone notices."

Habits are like that.

K-Love radio does a 30-day challenge. It's a great ploy, because research shows that anyone who does something repeatedly for thirty days has created a habit. And when we're in the groove of habits, we get the job done.

What are your bad habits? What are your strengths? What can you deep-six or downsize or give up to make your day/week/month more productive?



Leave a comment below to get the conversation rolling. I've got a copy of my newest mystery "Just Over the Horizon" to go out to one delightful person today... all commenters will be entered.

And I brought coffee and donuts to tempt you in. Coffee. Donuts/doughnuts and great books.

What could be better than that?

USA Today Bestselling Author Ruth Logan Herne writes the kind of books she likes to read, so that's a total bonus, right? And she's been known to make herself (and others!) cry, but she makes them smile, too, so she figures it balances out. Friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, visit her website ruthloganherne.com or email her directly at loganherne@gmail.com. She loves to chat with writers, readers, and pretty much anyone who comes along because she talks a lot, but has managed to have over 50 books published, so she must stop talking occasionally! We think...


53 comments:

  1. I have peanut butter crunch coffee to share this morning. I can make biscuits and gravy if you are hungry. Thank you for sharing this. Blessings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Biscuits and gravy???? I am in! And the coffee sounds quite intriguing, Lucy!!!!!

      Delete
  2. Mm. Donuts...
    I try to stay a week or two ahead on my blog schedule. I am so much less stressed that way. Every now and then it starts creeping back up on me, and I have to focus on that for most of my work time instead of the fun stuff as much (incentive to stay ahead). I have learned to jot down ideas for future posts as they come instead of expecting to remember them when I sit down to write. I do the same with plot ideas. It helps keep things in my head which is full of th hinges like grocery lists, appointments, preschool curriculum, Sunday school lessons, and the charter of my children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amy, I'm with you. It helps me to stay ahead. I know authors who can jam pack a book into a two-week marathon of writing, but I've never been able to do that. I am quite happy being a very productive turtle!!!

      Delete
  3. Well. Ruthy, I needed this today. MANY plates spinning...my debut next week, PR and blogs for that and the other two books on the horizon, my nonfiction book on local history, the house and yard in fall, and that pesky day job. I don't do panic mode either, and it is such a blessing to have done things ahead of time. God doesn't want us to be stressed.
    Agree with you about the additional roles women play, or take on. My husband has worked second-or third shift for most of our marriage and I could never do it. He will come home completely drained and go to bed. I could not rest until the laundry was folded, the floors done and the dishes sparkling in the strainer. There IS a difference, don't get me started.
    Much to do, may stop back in later.
    Kathy Bailey
    Keeping stuff in the air like the juggler on the old Ed Sullivan Show

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahahahahaha! I hear you loud and clear. And while not making assumptions because there are always exceptions, studies show that a huge percentage of household and kid care duties still fall to women and often they're full-time working women, so that's a time crunch right there.

      Thanks for stopping in, Kaybee!

      Delete
  4. While I'm definitely NOT an early bird writer, I can't write at night anymore either. I can edit and tweak, but my tired brain won't come up with brand new words after about 8 p.m. My biggest learning curve was accepting the fact that my "average" writing speed is 1600-2000 words on a great writing day, and sometimes less, so my habit is *consistency* in order to meet my goals and deadlines. And even though it feels as though I'm behind everyone else I "see" on Facebook or Twitter, that's where I'm at and that's what I have to accomplish to get a book done. It would be wonderful if I could do those in an hour, but I guess my brain just doesn't work that way. It takes me 4 hrs but I see it as 4 hrs of just writing - nothing else. And when I'm spending 4 hrs a day in my story world then my brain is working on it when I'm not at the keyboard too.

    Ruthie, you amaze me with everything you accomplish! I don't have grandchildren (never will) or a farm, but you are my inspiration. :) You show the rest of us how to persevere and get things done, and I appreciate it so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It must be Ruthie's magic rubbing off but I just managed to write 914 words in an hour - that's a personal best! See what happens when inspiration is shared and good habits are blossoming. Thank you, Seekerville!

      Delete
    2. LAURIE!!!! WOWZA!!!!! First, I am so stinkin' proud of you. You know, I have been gifted with a brain that kind of "sees" the story. So when I sit down, I've mentally mulled from the day before what I think should happen, and then I re-read the previous day's work to see if I'm right... and then I write it. And it goes pretty smoothly now, but it's with years of practice.

      Kind of like a kid who's fast but not soccer proficient? We may have the talent, but the speed of the story takes a while to get in motion.

      You did great, and I love that consistency. That says so much about us as people.

      Delete
  5. Great post Ruthy and I enjoyed it as always. Even though I am retired, I still have a lot of plates spinning! Just accepting that older doesn't mean that nothing is going on. And to answer your last question: Coffee. Donuts/doughnuts and great books. What could be better than that? ABSOLUTELY nothing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed on all counts! Coffee and donuts work with me!

      Delete
  6. Ruthy, I love all the suggestions you've shared here. I have slipped into the mindset that my writing takes a back seat to the things our boys are dealing with. Both have had kind of big things going on. But, there have been times when I should have just shut my door and worked. Trying to find the balance between being a mom and being a writer has been tricky. In august, I spent as much time as possible on my book, and I'm still trying to finish it up. So, I need to establish the mindset that my writing is worth spending time on. And then I need to get BICHOK and get busy. Speaking of . . . I'm heading to into the world of my story now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeanne, it's a tough balance with family, and I refuse to give up family so I give up other things. TV... Bah. Humbug. I've also cut back on volunteer efforts for the time being, although I still have my faves. And with a big family, there is always something going on. But if my writing is done early, I don't have writer's guilt... and then I can go on to new plates!

      Delete
  7. Bad habits??? What, me? More like "What, me worry?" ;-)

    Good post, Ruthy, and I am setting up to print it because, let's face it, I have plenty of bad habits, all of which I would loooove to eradicate. Today is Day #4 of this week, and the third day I have had a tough time getting my head out of the water (AKA tears and feeling down). Yesterday was my best day, when I finally finished my rough synopsis AND I wrote almost 4,000 words of another book. Of course, not much else got done, and my hubby was home sick from work. Today it's just the pets and me, and I haven't done a thing other than start laundry.

    I need to be a fly on the wall and follow you around for a day, a week, six months...

    Anyhoo, my bad habits? Wasting time (Facebook, genealogy, pacing because I don't know what to work on first) is my huge one. My strength is once I get going, almost nothing can stop me. Also, I've rediscovered my love of writing this year.

    Another bad habit: FEAR that paralyzes me. I think that's part of what I am feeling this week because I need to finish a proposal to send to an agent and I. Am. Scared. Witless. I try praying...

    BTW, I am not a morning person, but am more of a night owl, although as I get older, I'm more of a "I'll go to bed at 11 and read until 1 a.m. because I really want to finish this book!" person. ;-)

    Blessings, dear lady! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melanie, we did a whole year of focus on conquering fear. On kicking it to the curb. On shrugging off rejection as no big deal because there's always someone else to ask, to approach, to pursue and with indie publishing, our options are wide open.

      Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door will be opened.

      God has opened an amazing door for us and we can use it by his invitation.

      So why not use that late night time for writing? Use reading as a mini-reward?

      You write a thousand words you get to read three chapters.

      We're all different. God's clever that way. I think the secret is finding out what works for you, then sticking to it.

      Go for it, Mel!

      Delete
  8. Hi Ruth:

    Please response to this comment in the morning. Better tardy than snarky.

    I've read and reread your comments about all that women have to do which leads me to this question: "Would you rather have been born a male?" This leads to the next question: "Don't you think the average woman leads a much more meaningful life than the average man -- who is lucky just to lead a life of quiet desperation?"

    About habits

    I see a habit as something that produces withdrawal symptoms if you don't do it. However consider this: a lot of what goes for habit is really a system. Rather than creating a habit, one can create a system that one can keep perfecting over time. Systems are easier to create (and to change) than habits. Besides you can drop a bad system in a moment but dropping bad habits can take a lifetime.

    If you develop good systems for given tasks you can get the best results with little thought. The military lives by teaching skills 'by the numbers'.

    I know this may be like asking the genie to grant you three more wishes with your last wish, but how about this: Develop a habit of creating and enhancing systems that make your life run smoother and more productively.

    Threshold of delightfulness

    I have one worry about your comment that a mystery would go to "one delightful person". Is that also a requirement?

    BTW: That "God has a habit of picking up nobodies and making them somebodies" is not that impressive given that He can pick up 90 pounds of clay and make it into somebody. (There's goes the delightful! : ())

    Vince


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahahahahahaha!

      Where to begin????

      Yes, they have to be delightful by my standards, and my standards are abysmally low! :)

      I disagree about systems vs. habits. It complicates things for we simple-minded folk. A habit becomes ingrained whereas a system is so very Type A micro-managing. I know what you mean, but that would drive me crazy. I stay so much more focused if I don't over-think everything, you know?

      Fulfilling life... well, I don't find dishes fulfilling, and I'm giving you a pass because this is all very different when you're raising children.... that's a huge, ginormous time component that tends to fall on the mom in the house disproportionately.... But even so, I love being a woman and writing books that empower women to be all God wants them to be. That's the best calling ever.

      But I know you'll love the doughnuts!

      Delete
  9. Sigh. I've been falling into some bad habits lately. Allowing myself to be distracted during writing time.

    Time to clamp down, turn off the internet, and focus!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't we all????

      And I am always so excited when we get later into fall and life slows down... Oh mylanta, I love a chance to breathe!!!:)

      Delete
  10. Always good to read your posts, Ruthy. I have too many bad habits. I've spent way too long this afternoon looking at Facebook and other things on the computer when I have much to do, including writing. I am really trying to work on making my best schedule. I am not someone who can get up in the morning, but it is also hard for me to write or do other tasks in the evening. I do need to make a good habit in order to get that done.

    No need to put me in the drawing. I am reading the book right now. I have been putting it off because I don't want to see the series end!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandy, FB is a time killer! I get sucked in. I've gotten so I don't even go there everyday anymore. I need to find more balance, though. I should just save it for nighttime when I'm done working for the day.

      Delete
    2. Oh, I've had several letters from people who hated to see that series end, Sandy! They're asking for another book! I sent the letters on to Guideposts and they'll make the decision, but how fun to be part of a series that people love that much???? We had a blast doing it, writing the books, working together. And I absolutely loved launching my mystery career with them!

      Delete
    3. Ruthy, there is precedent for more books. I also loved the Mystery of Marble Cove series by Guideposts. A year or two after it ended, they published a two-book Christmas set. I would love to see that!

      Delete
  11. I have daily rituals that help me accomplish writing, reading, Bible study, housework, farming, craft study and about 13,000 steps a day and 8 glasses of water.
    I’m so boring!
    I’d like to know more about the 1K in 1Hour group. I have a daily goal of 1500 words when I’m not editing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dalyn, I don't think I've ever gotten that many steps in one day!! Good for you!!

      Delete
    2. Dalyn, that's wonderful! You've created your habits already, and I'm in total agreement. That's not boring. That's focus, and focus is a wonderful thing in this business.

      Here's the link for the 1K1HR Facebook group:

      1K1HR on Facebook If that doesn't work (because it's a closed group) then just type 1K1HR group into the Facebook search bar and it should come right up and ask to join. Carol Moncado is the moderator of the group, and there are about two dozen of us who post there regularly....Nice ladies!

      Delete
  12. I admire your work ethic...and writing of course! I am retired, but still like to be organized and a planner. Had to reverse all plans today since an expected construction guy got overheated in the GA heat and did not get to our house to work. So we took off to do grocery shopping instead.
    Would love to read your newest mystery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jackie, it's been so hot here lately that it's a wonder outside workers are able to function!

      Delete
    2. That heat is abusive to workers sometimes. I can't imagine it, and you know I'm a total whiner when dealing with heat and humidity and the farm. I am not stoic!!!! Not one bit!

      Jackie, I'm tossing your name into the very clean cat dish! :)

      Delete
  13. Thanks for this post Ruthy - my writing time is during nap time, though sometimes it doesn't always get done if the littlest one decides she's had it with sleeping... But you're right, one needs to develop good habits and consider this passion as a job. :) Lee-Ann B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee-Ann, my kids were never nappers so I always had to write late at night. That's why I'm such a night owl now!

      Delete
    2. Lee-Ann, that's a tough one, isn't it? It's like you have to be ready to drop and write!!!!

      That's hard to do if you're a muller like me. I plan out my next scene mentally when I'm doing menial chores. I'll envision the hero and heroine or whomever and think about their reactions when I'm doing dishes or driving or cleaning or watering mums... then I'm geared up for the next writing session, whenever it comes.

      But it's not easy, is it?????

      Delete
  14. I love a routine, so what has derailed me is when my schedule must be rearranged. Couldn't write at ten? Then why would I write at eleven? Sometimes it's hard to make flexibility a habit. But I'm getting there. Mentally prioritizing every day is a big help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Samantha, flexibility can be tough, especially when changes mess with our routines.

      Delete
    2. SAMANTHA! Such words of wisdom. Mentally prioritizing every day... THAT'S BRILLIANT. I wish I'd said it!

      That's the key, right there. To think ahead about what you're going to do, then follow through, even if the schedule gets wonky. Everybody's schedule gets wonky, right?

      The successful people work around the wonk!!!!

      :)

      I'm so glad you stopped by with that gem!

      Delete
  15. Well.Feeling convicted about good and bad habits. I am in an accountability group of Church Ladies as far as Bible study and health and that helps a lot! But I do have a lot of bad habits as far as wasting time on the internet. Call them habits, routines or systems -- I think anything that can be made automatic helps!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ann, I think we all have areas that are harder than others. Accountability really does help me, too.

      Delete
    2. Ann, I agree. And part of my fun is that I absolutely love what I do, so prioritizing the writing is actually easy for me. It is a true reward. So maybe it's harder for some folks who haven't developed that perspective yet?

      I love your accountability group. What a great idea! I think we should all be more accountable than most of us are these days. We are so blessed that we can easily take it for granted because it's our "normal". But our normal is absolute opulence for others!

      Delete
  16. I watch too much tv, scroll on facebook too much, and I talk too much about writing without doing enough of it. Very convicting post! Just the kick I needed :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glynis, Ruthy is a great motivator!

      Delete
    2. Glynix, THE TRAPS. That's exactly what they are, they are traps to grab hold of us and waste our time. Now that's okay if that's what we really want to do with our time. There's nothing wrong with that...

      But I always felt that when God gives us a talent, we should use it to the best of our ability. And waiting until the time was right, with six kids and two jobs, I did my share of teeth clenching, LOL! No joke there...

      So when I finally got a window of time to write and not feel like I was neglecting anything or anyone, it was a breath of fresh air, like a door had been opened. I think that waiting period really and truly prepared me to take the bull by the horns when my turn came. And I'm not a very good bull rider, but I'm a very happy writer, LOL!

      Delete
  17. I love my routines and my lists. I seem to get a lot more done in the day if I am organised.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary, you're so right! Lists really help me. I don't why I don't make them more often.

      Delete
    2. Me, too. And because I have several unrelated tasks (family/farm/writing/after school care for kids) I write myself notes and lists so I don't drop those plates. It is a huge help!

      Delete
  18. Hey, Ruthy! I know you wrote this post just for me! I've spent the entire summer in flux, and this week we're traveling (our semi-annual trip to visit our parents,) so any habits I had developed prior to April 8th (when we made an offer on our new house) have disappeared.

    I have been taking the time to write on this trip, though. Not quite 1K per day, but almost. I'll be back at it when we get home next week. It's deadline time...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jan, I hope you'll have some great blocks of uninterrupted time when you get home!

      Delete
    2. Jan, you and puppy can write together!!!! YOU WILL HAVE SO MUCH MOTIVATION TO WRITE because you have a deadline AND a puppy who needs walking. :)

      I am so excited for you!!!!!

      And that view from that new house. Oh mylanta, it's stunning!

      Have a safe trip and many blessings on that deadline!!!

      Delete
  19. I'm a day late in commenting! (Read the post yesterday but had to run.)

    I'm trying to work more toward morning productivity. Since I'm a night owl, the transition is taking some time. LOL Part of that is finding the time before anyone else gets up. It's easier not to get distracted that way (as long as I stay off the Internet!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Missy, those distractions are tough, aren't they? Someone suggested a five minute timer for Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest... and then an hour of work. Repeat.

      Just like the shampoo bottles! :)

      I was gone half of Wednesday and had farm work and then baking all day yesterday, so I'm late chatting, too... but it's only seven more weeks, then I'm rewarding myself with a trip to Nashville, some Blue Ridge research for my 2020 Love Inspired series, and then back home to spend a beautiful winter of writing. But for now, it's SO BUSY!!!! EEEK!!!

      Delete
  20. This is exactly what I needed to read right now. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie, I'm so glad! None of us are Super Woman, but we are Super Women and we've got this!!! Sometimes it's just in the planning and the doing!

      Delete
  21. Ruthy, you are the most disciplined, active, busy, overachiever I know! LOL Are you selling your energy at your farm? If so, I'm on my way! I love that you're flexible and have lots of fun, too, though!

    Thanks for the thought-provoking post! I'm trying to be more disciplined in certain parts of my life. Hopefully, it will take! :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Winnie, hahahahahahahahaha! I LOVE THAT DESCRIPTION!!!! That fits me to a "T"!!!!! And isn't that funny, because it's "Normal" level for me. And I think it's always been that way, so I try to remember that I'm wired differently and to be nice to people who actually are the real version of normal. :)

      I've always looked to discipline for accomplishment. Like Mary, at the cross. Staying the course, following her beloved son, seeing his torture, the passion, the grave sadness and pain... When I'm going through hardship (and what person, what mother doesn't?) I think of Mary, following that cross, standing beneath her son, begging for a mercy that doesn't come until the stone is rolled back. And then-- finally-- understanding.

      And I think of pioneers when my day gets long. How did they do that? How did they forge through those long, hot and cold days? How did they persevere? And they built and entire nation on that perseverance?

      So I hold up the strongest examples I can and follow them... It's like a light in the darkness, my friend!

      Delete

If you have trouble leaving a comment, please "clear your internet cache" and try again. You can find this in your browser settings under "clear history."