Skip to main content

A question about self-discipline

Captain’s Log, Stardate 08.23.2006

Self-discipline: So y'all know I've been struggling with this for at least a year now, in relation to my writing, exercise, diet. And I'm still struggling.

So now I come to you guys for more help. How the heck do you discipline yourself???

I've been trying this new thing where I don't check e-mail until the evening so that I'm forced to do work all day. It's going okay, but I don't always fight the temptation to open my e-mail.

So??? Any tips for someone like me???

TMI:

Writing: Speaking of tips, I posted another synopsis-trimming tip on my Story Sensei blog. If you guys have a question for me, just e-mail me.

I'm working on the new story. Using Donald Maass's WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL WORKBOOK to find more conflict, obstacles, turning points. This book totally rocks.
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
Camy, I struggle with self-discipline all the time. I find that I respond best to short-term goals. An all-day resistance is just too much for me! :)

I tell myself, "Work on this until 10:00. Then you can get up and get a glass of water. Work on this till noon; then you can go check Camy's blog." If I made myself wait until 5:00 or 8:00 at night, I'd go crazy! Start with baby steps. Write one paragraph, then get up and run around the house to get your energy back up.

Or just give in to the temptation. Ack! I didn't just say that! :)

Sarah
Wed Aug 23, 07:50:00 AM 2006
Jennifer Crosswhite said…
Sarah makes a good point. The harder something is, the small portions you need to break it into. Sometimes only 15 minutes. It's enough to make a difference.

The other thing I would add is to be sure to write down your goals and to be sure to reward yourself. It can be something as simple as checking e-mail or blogs or time to just relax and read. Whatever works for you. I try to make the reward big enough to inspire me, so if I have something I'm really struggling with, I'll make the reward something I really, really want.
Wed Aug 23, 08:50:00 AM 2006
Anonymous said…
Here I thought *you* had some tips on self-discipline.

Why do we all struggle with that so much--at least most of us: Self-discipline and procrastination which go hand in hand? I know very few people who have their life managed so that they get things done promptly.

Sorry, don't have any advice. If I did, I'd take it myself. For me the best self-discipline comes with necessity. If it *has* to be done, then I'll get it done. Otherwise I'll just dawdle at it. Pathetic, isn't it? I'll have all sorts of excuses as well, e.g., I have to spare my arm, it's been hurting far too much. Or, I can't concentrate because everything is so noisy. Or, I'm too stressed out to do a proper job. And it is all true but I still wish I'd get things done in spite of the limitations.
Wed Aug 23, 11:25:00 AM 2006
Georgiana Daniels said…
Like Sigrun, if I had any advice I'd take it too! But here's something to think about: pick your battles. For me it's hard to spread my self-discipline around. I have to pick the 1 or 2 priorities that I'm going to focus on, and do it. Still I fail sometimes, especially in relation to food, but I have a few victories too.

I just got the Maass book, and I'm almost afraid to read it, because then I'll see how many MORE problems my book has, and have to do something about it! Maybe ignorance is bliss? Seriously though, I've read the first few chapters, and they are fantastic.
Wed Aug 23, 12:55:00 PM 2006
Myra Johnson said…
Camy, what I've been trying lately is using a timer. Whenever I'm working at my desk, I set it for 35 minutes, then TRY not to look at it again until it beeps. Then I get up, move around, stretch, make 2-3 trips up and down the stairs, check e-mail, or whatever, for 5-10 minutes. Then back to work and start the timer again. It's not long enough to break the creative momentum, but just enough "something else" to get the juices flowing again.
Thu Aug 24, 08:22:00 AM 2006
Trish Ryan said…
Hey Camy, I've been struggling with this for almost a month now! I write down goals and can almost hear God laughing! Here's what finally worked - I prayed, "God, you know what needs to get done, so please make sure it happens!" Then I had a bizarre urge to get up at 5am this morning, and had my most productive writing session in a LONG time.

I keep reassuring myself - it doesn't matter when or how it gets written, only that it does!
Thu Aug 24, 01:19:00 PM 2006
Heather said…
I realize tht you are partly talking about writing in this regards and I can not admit to any form of discipline yet in my writing. In fact I just had 5 kid free hours and 3 more kid free husband free hours and have done everything but. However, as far as the rest goes, I went through an incredible Bible study that really helped refocus my heart on the Lord and less on food. Setting Captives Free. The Lord really used this study and the mentor they give you to help me through and prepare me for some difficult things that came right after. The study is free to join and was absolutely eye opening. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with self-discipline. I realize I sound like a commercial but it was the most Biblical approach that I have found to weightloss and excercise (they also have one for smoking and just about every other addiction.)

BTW I realize the html tags might not work but if you don't want to copy and paste, I do have a link to it from my site as well.
Thu Aug 24, 06:46:00 PM 2006
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...
64 comments
Read more

Window shopping

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.14.2005 Knee update: I went to the doctor today for a checkup, and saw his assistant. I’ve been concerned because there’s still inflammation in my knee joint, and it’s been almost 4 months since the surgery. She said she’d talk to the doctor about it tomorrow and call me. Sometimes he suggests laying off the PT to see if that causes the inflammation to go away, but I don’t know if that will work because lately I’ve been pretty active outside of PT. At PT today, the therapist did ultrasound and some sort of electrical current on the joint. Hopefully that will make the inflammation start to go down. I’ll know by tomorrow, probably. Writing: Mt. Hermon conference starts this Friday! On Thursday night, I’ll be at the Santana Row Borders bookstore to help out (and hopefully learn a bit, too) at a booksigning for several of the ACFW authors who are attending Mt. Hermon . That should be lots of fun. I had a good brainstorming time at ...
Post a Comment
Read more

I GOT A CONTRACT!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day ...
32 comments
Read more

Favorite chocolate?

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.22.2008 Lately I’ve been on this chocolate kick. Normally, I’m not a huge chocoholic like Captain Caffeine. I enjoy chocolate, but if given a choice, I’ll usually choose a fruit or custard/creamy dessert over a triple decadence chocolate layer cake or a chocolate-lovers’ downfall brownie. But lately, I’ve been eating dark chocolate squares. I think it started when I went into Joseph Schmidt gourmet chocolate shop in Santana Row. We’d gotten Joseph Schmidt truffles for Christmas, and they’d been fabulous—I can honestly say that they were as good as DeBrand truffles (author Colleen Coble’s favorite). So when I saw the brick and mortar shop in Santana Row, I went in immediately. Inside, this man was buying up stacks—and I kid you not, stacks —of the Joseph Schmidt Belgian Dark Chocolate bars. He raved about them, said they were terrific. A cashier was restocking the display case the man had cleaned out, and I snagged a bar. “I’ve got to try one, after watc...
15 comments
Read more

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...
18 comments
Read more