What do you do when you're in the doldrums?

[Katie]

I have to admit to having the blues at the moment. I desperately want to finish my sequel and get it published to Amazon, but I just can't seem to concentrate for any length of time on anything. Part of the problem, I know, is that I've been landed with a job at work for six weeks that I don't feel equipped to do and I'm finding it more than a little stressful. It's got to the stage where I feel like giving up work altogether so that I can concentrate on writing. Unfortunately, with a son at University, that's not an option, unless I suddenly have a book take off like Fifty Shades of Whatsit.

So what can I do to get back my sense of direction? Any tips and tricks to instant relaxation and focus?

[Terry]

I go to the gym. I actually do that five days a week anyway. It clears my mind. When I'm working out, I literally think of nothing but the workout. It refreshes me, as well as has taught me the discipline I need to sit my butt in the chair and write daily.

[Philip]

I think you're being overwhelmed by your 'day job' and need to resolve that issue before you can comfortably focus on your writing. Try to deal with 'bite-sized' chunks of your job at work and celebrate small victories. Looking at the whole thing and thinking "I can't do this" will sap your strength and confidence.

[Lorraine]

I can't give any advice, but I'll happily send you a big hug x

[R.J.]

Katie wrote: "I have to admit to having the blues at the moment. I desperately want to finish my sequel and get it published to Amazon, but I just can't seem to concentrate for any length of time on anything. Pa..."

Stop writing for the moment. Chew through the next six weeks. Refocus then. Writing is a luxury to us. The son comes first and a job keeps the dosh flowing in the here and now. Writing in a state of desperation is probably not a good. The time off writing will allow mean that when you come back to it in 6 weeks you will be up for it. Look forward to the return to the writing as a treat after the grind of the job. Six weeks will swifly pass. I think we have to be in a good place to write well and you are not right now. But you will be, when you have chewed through the job. And if you are not pining to write you will do the job better. Right now your energy is bleeding away because you are trying to do two things and are not happy about how it is going.

Maybe the key word in your msg is 'instant'. I say this as much to myself as you. I don't think we can relax or focus instantly unless we have practiced how to do both and that takes time.

[Simon (Highwayman)]

I agree with Philip. I wouldn't mind betting your day job is littered with tasks you have hidden in the bottom drawer figuratively speaking. You know they are there and may be kidding yourself that they don't exist, but a nagging doubt in your mind about those tasks is stopping you performing.

Next time you go to work, pick up one of those deferred jobs (an easy one is fine!) and give yourself the task to do it - maybe say "When I finish xxx I can read a chapter of YYY". Not only will you complete the task but afterwards you will feel great and wonder why you delayed it in the first place.....

Above all, if you are really struggling at work, tell someone and get a bit of help... it isn't a sign of failure...

I am involved in a very large project failure at the moment and there are a number of reasons among which are demotivated team, no one believing in the project and many people deferring tasks because they don't understand... oh, and no-one is talking!!!!

[Andrew]

You could do what I always do and drink heavily?

I'm aware many people would consider this bad advice, but it would be hypocritical for me to give any other.

[Katie]

Lots of good advice there...er except maybe Andrew's... I definitely couldn't do my job if I drank heavily. Or maybe it might all make more sense drunk? Simon, you could do my job with your eyes closed, but to me it's just one panic after another. But there are those who realise how hard I'm finding it and they will let me cry on their shoulder if I need to - figuratively speaking anyway.

I probably do need to forget writing for a while, but it's so frustrating. This story has been in the workings of my brain for years and it needs to be finished. At least I can console myself that it is only for six weeks and it has made my plans for next year much clearer - definitely no IT involved!

Lorraine, thanks for the hug! x

[Lynda]

Another hug here, Katie. So sorry you are feeling blue. Instead of writing, why not play your beautiful harp music. I always find that de-stresses me.

And chin up, girl. Grit your teeth and tell yourself you WILL get through this. Sending positive vibes your way.

[Simon (Highwayman)]

I think I sounded a bit like a school teacher there Katie......

You love writing so don't give up...... Life is too short to delay the stuff you want to do......

[Kath]

I would also say don't stop the writing.

At the risk of having the sick-bucket passed around, I always feel better if I do something for someone else. Hard when you are overburdened with work and stuck with your writing but there are often small things, little jobs people can't manage themselves but which take you so little effort. There are certain things that go on in the brain which enhance your creativity. You are taking your mind off the stress of work and off the creativity. My mind gets ceative when it's coasting in neutral!
So, to sum up (I go on a bit, don't I?) do something just for a short time, that will change your perspective.

Best of luck. Sometimes life gets obstructive.

[R.J.]

You asked for triccks to instant relaxation. Try this. 1 minute a day mdx. It will work.

MEDITATION

Be still
Join with all
Fell new goodness flow throughout
Give anew
Be true

Neat, I will use it myself. 2/3/7/3/2 syllables. Feels right. Thank you for inspiring it. Five active verbs.

[Nicola]

Hi Katie

I can sympathize with the frustration of necessary work getting in the way of pleasurable writing. Or, as I felt, the real job preventing the dream job from happening! As I began to resent my real job, I think the stress made me even more determined to make a go of the writing. I found that short breaks, such as taking the dog out for a walk before and after work, enabled me to clear my mind for a while and think about the book.

It doesn't resolve the problem completely, but it helps. In the end I took the plunge and turned my back on the day job. Now it's the stress of trying to build a new career ... :)

[Katie]

Thanks, everyone. I've had a relaxing weekend and done a lot of thinking. One good thing this has done is help me come to a decision I probably wouldn't have been able to make otherwise. I would have told myself that what I was doing was the safest bet, even though I hate it. At the moment I'm working three days a week, so I should get some writing time, but my 'off' days tend to be swallowed with washing, shopping, cleaning etc. I've decided that next year, I'll drop the day that I help in IT Support and re-register as a teacher so that I can do relief teaching (I think you might call it supply teaching?). I can earn as much in one day of relief teaching as I do in my usual 3 days as Library Assistant and IT Support, so I'll not be losing anything money-wise. In fact I'll probably end up earning a lot more because our school is always looking for relief teachers. And five years of working in school has shown me that I do still like the idea of being a teacher.

Ignite, you're right, I should stop feeling sorry for myself and look to helping others. It's always a good thing to do. I get my best ideas when I'm coasting in neutral, too. I wrote 'Mark of the Dragon Queen' in my head while covering Library books!

RJ, I love the poem! I shall keep it pinned to my desktop to remind me to breathe!

Nicola, my dog has had more exercise lately than she's ever had before! My harp is getting a good workout, too, Lynda! I do dream of writing full-time, but it's going to be a long, slow process before I feel confident enough to let go of my regular job completely.

[Kath]

Covering library books is great - I get my ideas on the bog - which is why I only write poems - I'm not in there all that long!

[Nicola]

I love the idea of lavatorial poetry!

[Kath]

There's another kind! ?

[Nicola]

I imagined it to be a posh sort of bathroom poetry, for those who have a lavatory rather than a bog! Perhaps if Katie can produce waterproof covers, you could publish a book of bogside reading?

[R.J.]

Nicola wrote: "I imagined it to be a posh sort of bathroom poetry, for those who have a lavatory rather than a bog! Perhaps if Katie can produce waterproof covers, you could publish a book of bogside reading?"

Hmmm, will try for to flush something out next week.
*bogside bard bows*

[J.S.]

If I've learned one thing from the past forty years... and I haven't*... it's that you can't do it all NOW. Just take your time!

And remember that there is at least one nine-year-old boy on the other side of the world who appreciates you, because my son loves The Dragon Box!

* (c) Homer Simpson

[Katie]

A Kindle in a ziplock plastic bag should be great for bog poetry surely?

J.S. wrote: "If I've learned one thing from the past forty years... and I haven't*... it's that you can't do it all NOW. Just take your time!

And remember that there is at least one nine-year-old boy on the ot..."

My problem is, JS, that I can't do it at ALL and I don't have the foggiest idea where to start! But I hate that fact. We'll get by though, even if the school ends up going back to paper and pen for the rest of the six weeks.

I'm so glad your son enjoyed The Dragon Box! It must have been your Aussie accent that did it! Thanks for telling me. The day has started out on just the right note!

[Steve]

You might find it useful to think of writing as a way to unwind from everything else, Katie, particularly while work is so busy and stressful. Get all the home chores out of the way as quickly as you can after work and leave a day free for you, without distraction or worry that you still have other things you need to do. Even if you don't write much in that one day a week, you will still move the story along and it will get finished. And I'm sure you'll feel all the better for it come Monday morning, whatever the week has to throw at you.

[Ruth]

Hi Katie
Like Ignite I mostly write poetry, often with a pen in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other as I'm cooking dinner. For writing longer stuff - the novel that hasn't got very far yet - I seem to do better if I'm not at home surrounded by distractions. Cafes work well or out in the garden if it stops raining long enough. Meanwhile, I have to confess that I am not very good at getting chores done, and I need to go right now and clear my dining table of sewing, cardmaking stuff and books so that I can feed my husband's brother and family when they come to dinner tonight! All the best. Keep up the good work. And most of all enjoy it.