End of Q1! What happens next?!
With March closing rapidly we are at the end of the first quarter of the year. For some this quarter has given birth to book releases, book signings, finished beta reads and so much more amazing progress. For some of us though, this quarter has been riddled with illness, doctor visits, low energy days and sleepless nights.
No matter which side of the road you are on, and maybe you are right in the middle. You had your fair share of progress and achievement but found yourself limping along to get there. We are all pushing ahead trying to do better, be better. Even if you didn’t write one single word on your draft you are making progress.
How do I know that? Because I know you tried! You sat there and you stared at that screen or notebook, you laid out the index cards and all the markers and tools to plan and prepare for whatever you are working on. So you made progress and I am proud of you for it!
The next question is how do we move forward into the next quarter when we may feel like we have so many things left undone? You sit back, you regroup, reprioritize. You reconnect with your values and life goals and you keep going. Just because it is a new quarter doesn’t mean you need new goals, you have goals! Just keep pushing forward on them.
You don’t have to recreate your plan or vision, just adjust it, adapt and use the progress you have made to keep going.
So here is my plan going into Q2, I am going to keep working on Murder Under a Full Moon. I am prioritizing some of the other projects and tasks that I came up with and setting them aside if needed. Not abandoning them, just pausing on them so that I don’t continue to overwhelm myself with trying to do all the things.
I am focusing on my health. That is my first priority. I have to put my health both mentally and physically first or I will never have the energy and motivation to do what I really love doing. Writing and being part of an amazing writing community. Feb brought me health news that scared me and made me realize that I have to change my eating habits, my movement and my focus. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I am a lucky one though, I don’t have to take insulin shots, just a pill twice a day. But this was a harsh look at reality and how I was neglecting myself. So honestly. I have spent the last 6 weeks entirely focused on bettering my nutrition, my workouts, my mental health. Because I need those things.
My second priority is to my community. I am part of an amazing group of authors and writers. I have made commitments to them and I will not break those commitments. It is an integral part of me. They have been there supporting me through all the bumps of the last several weeks and I can’t thank them enough.
My third priority is my writing. Yes it is coming in dead last for Quarter 2. Because as much as I love writing and I really want to get this book finished. I know that I am not ready to sit down and write until I am feeling better. I have plans, I have deadlines. But they are not harsh, they are not going to create anxiety or stress. There is no right or wrong way in how often I write. Clearly the faster I get it done the faster I can publish it, but will it be the best book I can write if I push myself too hard? I don’t think it will.
I challenge you to look at your priorities and make yourself the first one on your list for quarter 2. Be a better you and enjoy every moment you have.
Brandy is The Unorganized Writer on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and more social media locations. She also owns Starlight Fairie Designs Put a little magic your designs a social media and branding design business. Co-creator of On the Wings of Friends Writing Buddy Program a six-month writing buddy matching program. She's also a writer of romance. She is working on her reverse harem novel now.
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