Reay Jespersen

94.
I went 94 days straight fulfilling the terms of the challenge put forth to me by Tracy: to write at least 100 words for 100 days in a row. You couldn’t double up one day and miss the next, as the challenge decreed: you had to write every single day, and if you missed a day, the 100 days rebooted and started over again.

Well, it was a hell of a run, but I realized this morning that in our long drive from visiting family out of town through yesterday, I came home last night, unwound for a bit, and went to bed. No writing done. I had a few scant story ideas jotted down (ironically, not in themselves reminding me I hadn’t done my needed writing for the day), but not enough to add to the needed total; and frankly, that would be a bit of a cop-out anyway.

However, shattered as I was to have been so close to finishing the challenge cleanly the first time out and then dropping the ball for no really good reason - I mean, I’m very busy these days in various aspects of life, but yesterday I had a about an hour when Jackie was driving when I could’ve been writing instead of chatting, and not once did it occur to me to do so, beyond said story ideas - I’ve actually come through it with a much more positive outlook.

I suspect that a large part of my forgetting to write yesterday was that it had never become a habit, as I was hoping it would. Initially, the notion of making myself write at least 100 words every day suggested that I’d get so use to doing it after that time that it would become habit. Thing is, with my routinely late work hours for part of the week, and then various other things going on at home keeping Jackie and me both hopping (along with the everyday/week things that keep everyone busy), I was just writing throughout the day as I could: sometimes in the morning, a couple of times at work or on the transit ride in the morning, sometimes at night back home… basically, whenever time allowed. I never made it a real priority. Hence, there was no routine put in place. Hence, no habit formed.

I decided that what I’m going to do is combine two different elements in my writing, both of which are inspired by Tracy. First, I’m going to keep a record of how much I write every day. Secondly, I’m going to re-try (and this time DO) the 100 words for 100 days challenge. And finally, my own twist on it: I’m going to get up at the same time every day to write.

Since I can never be sure what my days at work nor my evenings and nights may hold in store, mornings are the only part of my day I have any real control over. Thus, I’m going to start getting up when Jackie does and write even before I eat breakfast. I will do my 100+ words every morning (likely over a set amount of time, perhaps 45 minutes, which would take me up to the time I’ve been getting up weekdays), dutifully record how much I wrote, and then carry on with my day as I normally would, without fear or concern that I need to remember to get that writing in whenever I’m able to.

It was Alex - a Florida resident for a while now, and so sadly distant, but still my best friend - who pointed out some years back that the short stint during which I made myself get up earlier and write before going to work were some of my happiest days. I felt good accomplishing something I enjoyed doing, and it did brighten my day-to-day routine. This plan will also get me back to that place: whatever negative things may be dealt to me over the course of the day won’t be as bad, because I’ll be in a better headspace to start with.

On the downside, it means no more sleeping in. And though I’m not doing it nearly as much the older I get (an aging thing, parents have assured me), I still vastly prefer sleeping in later to going to sleep earlier. But really, if I’m going to give this habit development its due, I have to do this every day, not just weekdays.

The other downside is that in order to get up earlier but get enough sleep every night (something I all too often neglect to give myself), I’m going to have to be going to bed earlier than I normally do. Regularly.

But I’m serious about this. I want writing to be a habit for me - not something I make myself do - and the only way that’s going to happen is to put this plan into action.

I just found out tonight that Tracy slipped on her 100 day challenge, as well. And while I was going to start again today (stand up again, dust myself off, and git back in the saddle, as it were), she’s starting Wednesday and wanted to know if I wanted to start with her, which holds appeal. Thus, Wednesday the 21st (er… one day before I was going to finish the initial 100 day challenge) shall be day 1 of the 100 day writing challenge - TAKE 2!