Getting back into writing (or something else) when you haven't written (or whatever) in awhile

I’m going to write my newsletter three days a week.

I’m going to write one long article and one short article a week.

I’m going to write one short article a week.

Crap. I haven’t written anything in two weeks. Now what?

This one is for my fellow Substack writers. It’s also for anyone who strives to build a habit but occasionally falls off the wagon. You were on a roll, perhaps posting on your newsletter five days a week, jogging three miles every other day or praying every morning. Then you missed a day, then a few days. Eventually, more than a week passed, and you felt foolish.

How did you let so much time go by? Why didn’t you do at least a little something — write a short note, walk a mile, say a quick prayer while rushing to work? You might even ask why you should bother at this point.

The hardest part is getting back into it. Once you do, you feel so much better. Here are five actions to take to make that happen:

1. Put guilty feelings to the side. The more guilt you have, the less likely you are to pick up your habit again. Instead, think about the tasks you’ve accomplished while you were away. If there were moments when you could have been writing or whatever but you chose to do something else, don’t let that get to you. Tell yourself that going forward, you’ll allow yourself to do the things you have to do and still try to make time for writing, exercising, praying, etc.

2. Remove self-imposed pressure. When you do something for pleasure or personal gains and not for money, you face a unique pressure. It’s the one that tells you that you absolutely must accomplish this task, although you don’t exactly know why. If it’s because it makes you feel good, it shouldn’t feel like work. If you’re putting too much pressure on yourself, think about whether this is something you actually enjoy doing. If not, it’s okay to let it go. If it is something you enjoy, set realistic goals that don’t cause self-imposed pressure.

3. Ignore outside pressure. A good example is social media influencers. They show you how productive they are and make you feel like they never have an off day. We all know that’s bull. Don’t compare yourself to others. You move at your own pace.

4. Do something, no matter how small, to get back in the habit. This post is an example. It’s not going to set the world on fire, but it is a small step toward writing more often.

5. Set aside an extra 15 minutes each day to help you meet your goal. It might mean scrolling less on your phone (guilty) or getting out of bed the first time the alarm goes off and not after the second snooze (also guilty). It’s amazing how you can find extra minutes here and there to work on something you love.

BONUS: Savor the feeling of accomplishment once you’ve returned to your habit. Imagine having that feeling again and again. That will motivate you to keep going.

Here’s to getting back into that thing you love!