Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
It’s time for another meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group – IWSG started by the amazing Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. Alex stood out and caught my attention during the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year. Checking out his IWSG Website, I’ve found writers who are excellent in their craft and don’t mind sharing their weaknesses and strengths to encourage each other. I can honestly say this site is a safe haven for any writer whether secure or insecure with writing.
The awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are Julie Flanders, Murees Dupé, Dolorah at Book Lover, Christine Rains, and Heather Gardner!
Finding the Right Mix
Returning to writing after a vacation break causes great anxiety for some of us. We come back refreshed and raring to go, but we ask ourselves, where do we start?
The desk is piled with work we didn't complete before our break, our email postbox is overflowing with an unbelievable number of emails, and our mobile rings because we have turned off the do not disturb sign. Looking at our text messages, the panic starts rising, and as the day sets in motion, minor spasms of anxiety trouble us as our anger build with each email, each text message, each phone call.
There are no pat, instant, easy answers and no universal one-size-fits-all to learning how to cope with success, anxiety, failure, procrastination, insecurity, inferiority complex or anything else we can name.
So, where do I start? I start with my 'first things first' list that I left open before I went on my break. This helps me to get back into my workflow, slowly. I turn on my ‘do not disturb’ on my mobile, quickly, and I force myself to not glance at my emails until the end of the second day. I’d rather apologize to the senders of emails for being late responding than suffer anxiety attacks throughout my first day back at work. Anxiety attacks don't help me at all.
How do you handle getting back into the flow of things after a break?
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
*First Things First is a trademark of Stephen R. Covey and Associates
Click the highlighted IWSG if you would like to be a part of this phenomenal group. You won’t regret it.
Our purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
This is a Blog Hop!
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Nice nice nice!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan.
DeleteShalom,
Patricia
When I get overwhelmed, I make lists and then cross them off one at a time. I feel so guilty when I take a break and let things pile up.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
Hi Susan,
DeleteI know the feeling. I have had to learn to force myself to take a break. Now I do take breaks, I feel so much better.
Thank you for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
I think this is great advice. I tend to be the one running around trying to cope with anxiety. I always feel guilty for not returning emails as soon as possible. But I agree with you about not making yourself anxious. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for your kind words. It is so nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteHi Murees,
DeleteI was that same exact way. But now I know that was my own desire for perfection. Once I recognized that, I stop feeling guilty. No one is perfect.
Thank you for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
It is always a little scary coming back after a vacation. I'm ready to go with the writing, but the emails and everything else? Yikes! I've learned to take one thing at a time. Things will get done. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Christine,
DeleteRight On. Great point. Take one thing at a time. I love that because it is so true.
Thank you for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
Great post. One step at a time just like you outlined, as for all the emotional turmoil it creates--a stiff drink, lol, J/K.. Deep breath, recognize its just emotion and not a fact or real truth and tomorrow will look and feel different from today. A good cup of coffee or two to go with it. Juneta Writer's Gambit
ReplyDeleteHi Juneta,
DeleteThank you so much for dropping by. I like what you said about taking a deep breath and recognizing its just an emotion and not fact or real truth.
Great!
Shalom,
Patricia
I turn the ringer off on my phone and keep my email closed when I'm writing. Definitely helps me focus.
ReplyDeleteHi Madeline,
DeleteRight On! I have my ringer on my phone off too. Most of the time I answer my emails the last part of the day before I close my office.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
Pat, you are so right about vacations. I try to keep up with email, turn off notifications for most loops, but the volume of unread mail (snail & e) can be overwhelming. I try to prioritize and deal with the most important. Not always successful, though. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane,
DeleteYou're so right about the volume of emails. Some of the bloggers I follow, blog daily, but I don't respond to each of their blog posts. What I do is leave comments on one or two. It took me a long time to realize that I had to really prioritised and try to maintain a schedule that suits me.
Thank you so much for dropping by and I hope your book is doing well.
Shalom,
Patricia
something similar. I put on blinders and concentrate on the work. I'll leave the emails, etc.. for their scheduled time. :)
ReplyDeleteHi M Pax,
DeleteRight On. Exactly! My writing comes first.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
First, I realize I will never catch up on blog posts and hit the big delete button.
ReplyDeleteEmails are top priority. Usually I'm not gone to a place where I can't keep up with it though.
Plus we need time to recover from vacation. Because although they're fun, they're also really draining.
Hi Alex,
DeleteRight On! I had to learn not to feel guilty hitting that delete button. I have to admit emails are a priority for me but not top priority. They are the last thing I do before I close my office.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
I love your first things first list. I must start using that idea. Good way to get back into the groove. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
DeleteThank you. the first things first list came to me as I was reading the book First Things First by Stephen Covey. It opened my eyes.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
First-things-first it the best way to go. It's good to get the most important things out of the way. Once they're done, we con focus on the rest. Great advice!
ReplyDeleteHi Chrys Fey,
DeleteYes, it is. I try to keep this focus also. I don't always succeed but I am doing much better with this type of focus than without it.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
The first thing I do is get my office back in order. I'm a bit blessed because now I have two writing spaces, so I need to get them both in order, then I tackle the email and social media along with my editing clients...then querying reviews and new queries and then the best part starts.....writing. Good luck getting back into your groove. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
DeleteYour schedule sounds right On! Thank you for dropping by and yes, I am back into the groove and it feels good.
Shalom,
Patricia
I like the idea of turning everything off and skipping the emails until day 2. It's so easy to get sidetracked by email.
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon,
DeleteYes, it is easy to get sidetracked by emails and that is why I do it. I also don't answer my emails in the mornings. Mornings are for writing. I do look through them to see if anything is burning, but I use the best time of my day to write and not answer emails.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia
Hi Jen,
ReplyDeleteHow true it is. It is okay to step back from anything and breathe. It's never good to do something in a hurry. Somehow, we lose our perspective and our words are empty. They lack emotion.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom,
Patricia