How I Used Writing for Improve Consistency
It’s time to improve your consistency level.
Inconsistent people can be cured.
It can, but it needs strong willingness and time.
I started being inconsistent in high school — 10 years ago. My ex-high school girlfriend woke me up about this issue. She said that I quickly got interested in something but never stuck with it in a long time.
The worse, I barely finish something that I start.
In 2017, I started a Youtube channel. I contacted my friends and asked them to join this Youtube channel. Long story short, they accepted my offer. I was so excited at that time.
This channel will be the biggest Youtube channel in Indo — I thought.
In the first month, it was running well. We were consistently uploading one video per week. We promoted our video on all our social media accounts. We enjoyed the process.
Then the nightmare come.
In the sixth month, I started losing interest. Video shooting has become not enjoyable again for me. The brainstorming process becomes so stressful and too much pressure. I slowly became an unresponsive person — it’s hard for my team to contact me.
Two months later, we disbanded. I abandoned that Youtube channel.
Poor me.
Today, my life changed 180 degrees. I met the girl who brought a positive impact on my life. One of them is improving my consistency.
I keep finding how to improve my consistency level on myself — Then I realize the answer is writing.
Here is what I do:
I Wake Up at 4 Am Every Day
I started this habit two months ago.
The first week felt so hard. My body felt so tired and rigid. And I yawned all day long. Terrible.
By the way, I wrote a post about my experience on this waking up at 4 am habit. If you are curious, please click on the link below:
The main reason why I start this habit is to challenge myself. I need to push myself harder at the start. If I can do well on this waking up at 4 am habit, I’m confident that I’m on the right track to improve my consistency.
I always needed an alarm to wake me up in the first week I started this habit. But today, my eyes suddenly open, and I wake up a few minutes before 4 am. I am not sure what happened; maybe my body is adapted.
I Should Write 300 Words Minimum before I Can End My Writing Session
I had a daily writing schedule in the past, but it doesn't work. Because I don’t have a strict rule or clear daily goal, I can end my writing session anytime I want. Even I didn’t make any progress at that time, I could quit.
I was too mushy to myself.
But nowadays, I want to make a significant change in my writing skill and consistency level. Then I decide to have a daily goal for my writing session.
If you noticed, I start from the low number — 300 words minimum. Because I think if we can tackle the low number, we can tackle the higher number later on.
Usually, after waking up at 4 am, I turn on my laptop and then make a cup of black coffee. Once everything is ready, I open my Medium text editor and start writing.
In one of his posts, Brian Tracy said that a goal is essential because we can focus more on what we are doing, measure our progress, and more.
If I’m Stuck and End up with Nothing, I Must Continue My Writing Session after Working Hour
There is a day when my fingers are not connecting with my brain. It’s hard for me to produce a few words in my writing. Words are not coming on that day. I often end up with nothing — a blank page.
Most people called it Writer’s Block.
I have only one hour for my writing session in the morning. If I end up with nothing, I should sacrifice my family time after working hours to continue my writing session.
Because,
I must achieve my daily goals: 300 words minimum.
I Will Write Some Post Titles If I Don’t Know What to Write Today
I steal this approach from Ayodeji Awosika.
In one of his posts — he warmed up his writing session daily by writing many post titles in a few minutes.
However, instead of warming up, I use this approach when I don’t have anything to write. I will write as many blog titles as possible on that day.
If I can’t write any post, I write post titles — it’s not bad.
My writing daily keeps progressing.
The other day, I can look up to my titles bank and chose one title that caught my attention. Then I will start writing based on that title straight away.
If you often come up with zero ideas, I recommend using this approach. Let’s write whatever title comes to your mind. You might not be using all of those titles — that’s okay.
At least you have bank ideas.
I Should Finish Every Post Title I Start
“Beginning in itself has no value, it is an end which makes beginning meaningful, we must end what we have begun.”― Amit Kalantri
Every title I am writing on should have an ending.
I am often distracted by a new idea in the middle of writing a post. It looks catchier than what I’m writing at the moment. Suddenly, I want to pause this post and write a new topic.
But,
“If I pause this post and jump into a new topic, I would never finish this post.” — I talking to myself.
I always write those new ideas on a note app on my phone to solve this issue. So whenever the idea comes, I pause my writing a few secs, then I write that idea to my phone. So far, this approach has been helpful for me.
It doesn’t matter how hard I need to switch to the new idea; I should stay on this topic. I should finish what I’m starting. I don’t want to downgrade my consistency level. I should improve it.
Final Thought
If you are an inconsistent person now, it doesn't mean forever.
Find your therapy to help you to improve your consistency. Mine is writing.
You can use it for your therapy if you also love writing like me. All points I mentioned above are actionable for everyone. I think you should give it a try!
Final word,
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