Write a novel

How to become happy and productive in 12 minutes

Do you feel unmotivated? Completely drained of energy and inspiration? Maybe you've made time in your schedule and it seems like everything is going smoothly and you're ready to have a productive session.... But you just don't feel it.

It feels like you're not getting anything clever done now anyway.

This can be a scary feeling. Sometimes it even leads to a thought loop of self-doubt.

I know that feeling. I know it more than I would like to be able to.

Every writer feels this way at some point. Every student feels this way at some point when they have to study or do homework. Every entrepreneur feels this way at some point when their inbox is flooded with what feels like a million emails.

In this blog article, I share my proven techniques for staying motivated and writing your story even when you don't feel like it.

Grab a notebook and let's get started.

#1: BOOST YOUR DOPAMINE & SEROTONIN

These two hormones are responsible for keeping you motivated, wanting to achieve your goals and accepting yourself and those around you.
Without dopamine you are prone to procrastination, hopelessness, anxiety and mood swings; without serotonin you get panic attacks, insomnia and become more sensitive than usual.

You now set a timer for two minutes. You can do yoga, meditate or exercise.
When the timer rings, you don't have to stop immediately. Finish the yoga or exercise and have a drink before moving on to the next step.

#2: BOOST YOUR ENDORPHIN

This hormone is able to relieve stress.
Without this hormone you can get depression, insomnia, anxiety, mood swings and more. You also act impulsively.

To avoid this, set your timer again for two minutes. During this time you can doodle. It doesn't have to be beautiful or have a meaning. Don't get angry if you make a mistake! An eraser will help.

#3: BOOST YOUR DOPAMINE & CREATIVITY

Dopamine is really important - especially for writers. Not to mention creativity ...

Set your timer for seven minutes, take a pen in your hand and put a piece of paper on the table. Now write down everything that comes into your head: the annoying neighbour and the beautiful birdsong, your WIP, your stress and completely irrelevant things. Complain and thank, write beautiful and ugly, fast and slow. If you don't know what to write, write blah blah blah - or write down the conversation of strangers outside your window or all the vegetables you can think of - until you know what you want to write again.

Pro Tip: Using the voice note app on your phone works just as well! Go for a walk or hop in your car for a drive and talk all your thoughts out until there’s nothing left to say

OPTIONAL: BOOST YOUR OXYTOCIN

This hormone is known as the love or cuddle hormone. It makes you feel confident and motivates you to form and maintain relationships.
Without oxitocin, you feel lonely, stressed and anxious. You also have no motivation or energy.

This step is optional, but it is helpful. You can cuddle with your family or pet (note: not everyone likes this!), get a massage, take a cold shower, meditate, exercise or listen to music.

#4: CLOSE YOUR EYES

Even if you would like to skip this point, you should definitely do it.
Just lie down for a minute or two on a carpet, a sofa or somewhere else to make yourself comfortable. You can close your eyes or leave them open. Play with the carpet fringes or a pencil, leaf through a book with your eyes closed and listen to the sound, feel your heartbeat or do nothing at all. It's up to you.

#5: BE PRODUCTIVE

Now set a timer for 10 minutes. Ten minutes is not much, but it's not too little either. It's best to hang a Do Not Disturb sign on the door to avoid distractions.

#6: TAKE A BREAK

Now set your timer for one minute. Take a deep breath, have a drink and exercise until the timer runs out.

OTHER HELPFUL ARTICLES ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY:
- "Tips for motivation to write a novel" 
- "The ultimate list to stay motivated, part II" 
- "The 6 best tips ABOUT writing" 

#7: BE PRODUCTIVE

Then set your timer for 20 minutes to be productive.

#8: TAKE A BREAK

You have been productive for half an hour. As a reward, give yourself a five-minute break. The best way to do this is to move around a bit, have a drink, eat something (small and healthy!) or doodle.

#9: BE PRODUCTIVE

Now set your timer for 25 minutes and work/write/blog/clean for that long.

#10: TAKE A BREAK

Great! Now you've been working on something important to you for 55 minutes. Take a five-minute break. For example, you can put on some music and dance to it to increase your oxytocin levels and have some fun.


CONGRATULATIONS!

You were productive for 55 minutes - not bad! But don't stop now. Continue according to the Pomodoro principle (25 minutes productivity, 5 minutes break). Don't forget to take breaks and reward yourself at the end of the day for picking yourself up and getting things done!

CHECKLIST

To make it easier for you and to avoid scrolling up and down, here is the checklist:

#1: (timer for 2 minutes) yoga, meditation, sport exercises
#2: (timer for 2 minutes) doodle
#3: (timer for 7 minutes) write down thoughts
#4: (timer for 1 minute) close your eyes and rest
#5: (timer for 10 minutes) be productive
#6: (timer for 1 minute) Take a break: drink something, exercise the rest of the time
#7: (timer for 20 minutes) be productive
#8: (timer for 5 minutes) break: turn on music and dance
#9: (timer for 25 minutes) be productive
#10: (timer for 5 minutes) Break: drink, rest
Continue in the Pomodoro rhythm

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Write on,
Evie