Finding Balance: Overcoming Writer's Block and Setting Goals
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Understanding the Challenge
Have you ever found yourself jotting down your aspirations only to fall short of achieving them? As a child, I was often encouraged by my parents, teachers, and well-intentioned mentors to articulate my goals and share them with others. Yet, time and again, I failed to meet those expectations.
Initially, my setbacks stemmed from setting unrealistic objectives or lacking control over certain outcomes. Even as I learned to refine my goals to be more attainable, I frequently encountered obstacles that hindered my progress. I even started to believe in a superstition: voicing your goals can somehow sabotage them.
This notion, while a convenient excuse, ultimately detracted from my accountability. Each time I documented my professional aspirations or announced them publicly, the very next day they felt insurmountable. Unforeseen challenges would arise, taking precedence over my writing, and before long, I’d find myself two weeks without a single word penned, despite months of consistency prior.
Today, I've come to understand this recurring experience as a manifestation of writer's block.
The Nature of Writer's Block
In "The War of Art," Steven Pressfield refers to anything that hinders our creativity as “the resistance.” Our comfort in the familiar makes us wary of creativity, which inherently prompts change. This fear of transformation is often at the heart of writer's block.
Evaluating My Circumstances
The first step in addressing my writer's block was recognizing its presence. The next step involved gathering relevant details and analyzing my situation.
My primary source of resistance typically arises from competing time commitments. Family obligations take precedence, consuming my prime hours, while household duties also require attention. Consequently, I find myself with only three to four hours daily to allocate to training, relaxation, community involvement, and writing.
That’s a significant demand for just three hours.
I typically prioritize training, dedicating one to two hours based on my current regimen. This leaves me with a limited window of one to two hours where I must decide between unwinding and writing. Particularly in the late afternoon or evening, my mind struggles to focus, leading me to opt for relaxation instead.
Action Steps for Improvement
Just a few months back, I enjoyed three to four hours of writing time daily post-training. I anticipated gaining additional hours once my son began preschool. However, that plan backfired when he started dropping naps three times a week.
What I expected to gain during preschool hours was effectively lost during nap times. Furthermore, my son transitioned out of his crib, resulting in earlier wake-ups, and his napping schedule has become increasingly unpredictable. I'm also vigilant during his quiet time, teaching him to stay in his room for an hour.
This situation leaves me with limited alternatives: reduce training, cut back on relaxation, or creatively combine my time blocks. In the past, my son resisted accompanying me on runs, but I may need to encourage him to do so—at least until we establish a more reliable nighttime and quiet time routine. I could also swim while the family enjoys the kiddie pool in the evenings.
These adjustments could potentially reclaim two to three hours daily for writing. Most importantly, I must safeguard that time from encroachment by other obligations.
Final Thoughts
Only time will reveal whether this strategy is effective or requires modification. As always, my family's support is crucial to making it work.
Interested in the goals I've referenced throughout this discussion? You can find an outline of my aspirations for Medium from late February, which ultimately dwindled by the end of March:
Is Medium Worth it for Fiction Writers?
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