The first Wednesday of every month is when this group of awesome writers comes together to offer support, advice, encouragement or simply to let frustrations and woes flow. Writing is a tough journey, and we don't have to go it alone.
Thanks goes to the brain behind this group, Alex J. Cavanaugh! If you want to join in or find out more (because there is so much more to this group), then head on over here.
Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG. They can also be found on Facebook or on the IWSG blog.
Super, special thanks goes to this month's co-hosts:Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
(WARNING: I'm babbling this month!)
Happy March!!!
I don't know about you, but I'm not really ready for it. Not at all.
Here on my little farm, March means the beginning of all sorts of outside work. Now, don't get me wrong. I love to work outdoors (otherwise, what am I doing on a farm?). BUT that also means double the workload. I wasn't even keeping up with things this winter!
My list has gotten huge: firewood to split, fence line to clean, fence line to move (build), house to be painted, weeds to be pulled, seeds to be planted, brush hogging, re-setting the pool, rebuilding railing around the deck...and...and...and...
If I stop and let myself think about it, I get a little overwhelmed. You know that sense of panic which pulls at the chest and makes it hard to breathe, while you squeal through clenched teeth??? Yep, that's what happens. So, I don't think about. Nope.
But there's a bright side! (*cough*cough* Sure there is.) The bright side? It's time to lose some weight, get fit, and suck in nature's pure air! (Yay???)
As a writer, spending way too many hours sitting behind a keyboard can be a problem, and I'm not just talking about that extra cushion around the hips and waist. A stiff neck, aching wrists and forearms...and let's not forget the back. I mean, who really sits with the perfect posture while typing away? (Okay, the work on the farm also makes me ache....BUT....)
I don't always sit when I write. That's a biggie for me. I tend to move around with my laptop. While my favorite spot is a chair at the dining room table, you'll find me standing at the kitchen island or in front of the living room windows at my small, rolling-standing desk. Seriously, that standing desk on wheels was the best Christmas present ever!
I also 'schedule' small tasks in between writing time as breaks...if I'm going to be writing for several hours at a time. (Which doesn't happen very often, but let's ignore that.) For example, I'll wash a window or two, or take out the garbage...something every half hour of writing or so. There are always small jobs to get done, and instead of doing them all before or after my writing hours, I sprinkle them in between.
Too bad the bigger farm work can't be sprinkled in between. (I wish I could build a fence line in five/ten minutes!) But I'll take what I can get.
What do you do to keep yourself from sitting too long? Or do you just give up and enjoy that chair?
I am standing as I type this! I've gotten more into using my standing desk - it goes right on top of my regular desk, and I can just move it when I want to sit instead. I am intrigued by your standing desk on wheels - what a neat idea!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about having something like that at my 'regular' desk.
DeleteI've wondered about a standing desk. I do get up and take walks often.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that fence!
With the wheels and a hard wood floor...it's can be fun :)
DeleteWhen I redid my blog, I sat so long I had stiffness and discomfort in my right shoulder for about two weeks. I guess that's better than wrist pain? So, I'm lucky I keep my wrists aligned more often than not at least. I might like a standing desk, just to face a different wall once in a while. Would be nice. But then I'd probably just buy a tall stool to go with it. Lol! Have fun with all of that yard work!!
ReplyDeleteOooo...a matching stool. Not a bad idea!
DeleteTaking a break from writing to do something else (exercise, clean, etc.) is important.
ReplyDelete:) I probably need to build in more writing time and less of the others.
DeleteI'm the Energizer Bunny and can't hold still for long, so if I'm at my desk more than 30 minutes, someone better check on me.
ReplyDeleteWith all those minions, I'm sure energy radiates around you!
DeleteI stand at my kitchen counter too so I don't sit too much. And I exercise most days. I'll have a lot of yard work, but probably not until May.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with the kitchen counter is that snacks are way to close to reach.
DeleteWhile working at a desk for a couple of decades, I always wished for one of those nice, posh, cushy chairs reserved for executives and not those who actually did the work. I had to retire to get a chair like that, and within in a month I saw a difference in the size of my shadow on morning walks - ack! I have both an adjustable standing desk, and a rolling desk. Like you, I think the idea is genius. The desks actually facilitate walking away for a bit, but constructing a fence? You are definitely ambitious!
ReplyDeleteI must say I get some of my best ideas while working outside.
Wishing you all the best with your To-Do list!
The best ideas do come while working outside. I hope fence building brings tons of them
DeleteI like to sneak in chores to break up the sitting. I think my only problem is that I end up spending more time cleaning than writing!
ReplyDeleteAmen! :)
DeleteStairs are great!
ReplyDeletei don’t think i knew you were a farmer! how awesome!
ReplyDeleteand i definitely set limits to get up and do chores between writing/writing stuff—i even set timers. but my stuff is nice and small!
btw, doesn’t spring mean baby critters at the farm? that’s gotta be fun!
also wanted to thank you for supporting my Beast World campaign! thanks woman!
Tara Tyler Talks
I am horrible about not moving. I even set alarms, but I'll end up ignoring them. But like you, finding large chunks of writing time comes so rarely, I hate to walk away from it for even a minute.
ReplyDelete