While I didn't post it in my NYR post, one of my goals for this year is to drastically reduce my stress levels. The last six months of 2011 were quite uncomfortable for me, so much so at times I wanted to rip out my insides. Everything on the planet caused me stress: writing and getting it done "on time," homework assignments that I feared I wouldn't get finished though I was sitting down and doing them, getting farther and farther behind on my TBR list, reading everyone's blogs, finding time to hang out with my friends, even doing the laundry, the freaking laundry!
This year I've decided that none of that matters, at least not enough to kill myself over. I'll work on my writing, revising chapters, writing poems, short stories, but if it doesn't get done today that's okay. Nothing's happening to tomorrow. I've always gotten my homework done, never gotten a zero, I don't know why I'm worrying about it now. The books, and blogs, will still be there when I'm ready. I'm a teenager in high school. I'm going to hang out with my friends. They make me indescribably happy and I feel that makes me a better person. And laundry? I mean, come on, it sucks, but not that much.
Continuing on that theme, I have voided my prior blog schedule. Why? Well, while I have a few ideas for posts, most of the require some thought and time and, with everything else, I can't always do them in three day increments. I also don't like just throwing a post together so I'll have something up (though I have been guilty of doing this). All of this frazzles me, stresses me, so I'm returning to my old style of blogging where as I just posted when I had something to say.
Yeah when you're feeling like ripping out your insides, that's a pretty big sign that you should take a break.
ReplyDeleteI think that's why a lot of people use themes to certain days. It takes a big amount of pressure to know at least what you should be thinking of when deciding on a topic.
:-)
Good for you! You should definitely take the time to enjoy being a teen. Hang out with your friends. In the long run it will make your writing better when you do get to it.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
I think it's good to just post when you feel you have something to say. Otherwise it's like you're trying to fill a gap and you don't really have anything to put in it, and the gap is only there because you scheduled it to be there! (Well, at least, that's how I felt when I used to have a "blogging schedule").
ReplyDeleteThe problem is... now sometimes I let too much time go by before posting something new...
I hear ya, Brooke. We can make ourselves miserable and stun our creativity by putting too much pressure on ourselves. I'll look forward to reading what you have to say, whenever you want to say it!
ReplyDeleteSometimes just like voiding one's bowels...voiding one's blog schedule simply must be done. It is the epitome of the stress reliever.
ReplyDelete@Misha I felt bad about taking breaks, so I didn't for a long time, telling myself that the time would come. Now, I'm not taking a total break, just taken things slower.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like themes either, because then I feel I have to wait to post what I want, another reason I didn't like my blog schedule.
@Charity Yes! Because I'll actually feel like writing. XD My friends also don't care if I bounce ideas off of them and ask them questions. They're good like that. ^^
@Rachel I agree with both of your points to the nth (I think that's the expression...). Thank you for stopping by and commenting. ^^
@Angelina You're right. Lately I've been feeling a lot more like writing than I did before. And ah, thank you so much. That's a very sweet thing to say.
@Michael Nice, Michael. Very couth. XD
Yep, I don't have a blog schedule either. The only thing I HAVE scheduled in is my Sunday Session for music, and that's one I can do pretty much without thought or planning :)
ReplyDeleteI like your new attitude for this year, Brooke. When your "fun" stuff is stressing you out that much, you know there's a problem!
I've done a few weekly segments before but eventually they didn't last. I think a series that you posted on any day you want would be more fun.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!