How to Cancel the Noise in a World that Won’t Stop Talking

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After hours of waiting in the airport eating stale food and listening to announcements about my flight being delayed, I was looking forward to getting on that plane and reading my book, I needed to disconnect. I had found my seat, then a sweet lady sat next to me, we both acknowledged each other with a smile. The easiest way to get in trouble is by making eye contact and smiling -at the same time. She started telling me about how her best friend betrayed her and how this TV show was really bad, her dog was sick, she needed a tooth crown and something about the neighbor having lots of partners I couldn’t hear. Soon she realized I was not good at making small conversation so she switched to the guy sitting next to her. He was not good at making small conversation. So she kept on talking and bouncing between two people lacking this social skill. I wiggled my book to signal her about my intentions. It didn’t work. Then I remembered that somewhere in LA I had gotten a pair of these:

Noise canceling Bose headphones. Put them on, turn them on and let the magic happens. By the way, the lady never stopped talking, I know this because her lips kept on moving during the entire flight.

We live in a world that can’t be quiet. Noise pollution will detour you from achieving your goals. There are three words I keep in mind: disconnect and focus. Disconnect from what?

Foursquare: I used to be a Foursquare junkie. If you don’t know what foursquare is skip this and go to the next paragraph. At one point I held down mayorships on 18 different venues, all at the same time including a nudist colony in Scottsdale -which I never cared to visit. I would wake up at night whenever my phone buzzed to learn that tragedy! Rebecca C. had just ousted me as the mayor of Navajo Elementary School. I held down mayorship of the super popular (foursquare wording) Circle K. At one point I collected nearly 200 points in one day. That was a lot of work getting all those points and keeping up with my many mayorships. It was exhausting. I wanted to win, but win what? Who cares if I’m the mayor of Circle K? Will they give me free coffee and donuts? Will there be world peace because I’m a mayor of the LOVE statue at the Civic Center?  Will Bank of America bail me out from foreclosure on my North Bay Village condo because I’m their foursquare mayor? No, no and no. Recently a Foursquare friend invited me to join Forecast: “It’s like foursquare but for the future”. No thanks. I deleted my foursquare account.

My Foursquare Mayorships

Facebook: I now check Facebook no more than two or three times a day just for a few minutes and then log out. I used to be a facebook junkie too but I don’t feel the urge anymore to find out who brushed their teeth, whose baby walked and who had a bowel movement. I’m happy that people can share their lives this way but I don’t need to know this stuff. Also the iPhone and silly video games: another distraction. I would get a message from Bakery Story at three in the morning telling me that my Chocolate Stuffed Cream Strawberry Muffins Cupcakes were ready to serve. Serve now! -said the message. I’m a people pleaser -even in the virtual world- I had to serve my food at three in the morning. But guess what? Bakery Story is gone too.

I don't bake at 3am anymore

Dating: I stopped dating: A few months ago I went online and opened profiles on Plenty of Fish, Match.com and Jdate. But this too became another distraction. Red dress or black dress, high heels or boots, sushi or Italian, Corona or Saporo, kiss or no kiss. Hit re-play next morning and wait for the call. Ok, he called, another date, another round of dilemmas. One word for dating: stressful. This is something I’m willing to go through in the future but not now. So the last guy I went out with I knew he was going to be my last first date for a while. PoF account is now deleted and the other two profiles remain hidden. My writing was finally coming together so I felt strongly about pouring myself into my blog, Yoga, public speaking. I wanted to make this a priority. 

TV-Internet: This was an easy one for me. I don’t watch TV. The last time I did was 2008 -the presidential debates. Back in Venezuela I had an old TV that got dusty and stayed unplugged for the two years I lived in that room. As of today I don’t own one. However you don’t have to go to these extremes, just make sure TV doesn’t consume you. Make it a goal to watch a max. of one hour or whatever a day -set boundaries. Also Internet, I’ve decided not to touch a computer after 6pm (PC, laptop, or iPhone) I don’t always succeed at this but I try.

most of what is shown here is not real

News: I had a hunger for news. At certain point I had The New York Times and The Arizona Republic delivered to my door. I had Goggle Chrome set up to open CNN and Al Jazeera pages and a bunch of other news media outlets. But I’ve traded all those for the funniest and most inspiring presentations -TED and this guy‘s blog. We are vases, you can fill your vase with clean water or muddy water, your choice. I choose to fill mine with what inspires me, keeps me going and kicks me in the butt.

Stay away from staying awake: I’m a night owl. Right after 10pm I start feeling groovy, I’m ready to go and change the world! However, this routine is not productive and very unhealthy. Going to bed early is a battle for me but I accomplish this by freaking out myself to the point that bed looks appealing. How? I meditate. When I meditate I get all stressed out, so I can’t wait to go to bed. A typical meditation session goes like this:

  1. Set up a timer for 20 minutes
  2. Try hard not to count whatever minutes are left
  3. Count whatever minutes are left
  4. She did this to me
  5. An itch
  6. I said that to him
  7. Can’t feel my legs!
  8. What’s taking so long?!?
  9. Fast heart palpitations
  10. Back to breathing

This cycle repeats for about 20 minutes. When the gong goes off I get up, give thanks it’s over and go STRAIGHT to bed. No distractions. No monkeying around.

go to bed early

Que hacer cuando la gente es despota

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“Creo que eres de lo peor y se perfectamente quien eres, menos mal que me acuerdo de tu nombre para no comprarte mas nunca, eres de lo peor…un bochorno total…mentirosa, no cuentes mas nunca conmigo….”

Vendo libros en Amazon y recién acababa de salir de la ducha cuando leí este correo, una clienta muy molesta con el libro que había recibido. Detesto cuando mis clientes no están satisfechos con sus compras, tiendo a ser perfeccionista y cuando las cosas no salen perfectamente como lo tengo planeado me entra el complejo de inferioridad. El correo de ella me mortifico tanto que decidí rembolsarle su dinero inmediatamente –incluyendo el envío y le escribí pidiéndole mil disculpas por mi error, que haría lo posible para de alguna manera reparar el daño hecho. Le dije que no tenia que regresar el libro, que se lo podía quedar.

Mi querida clienta

Aunque pienso que todo tiene solución, también pienso que algunos problemas no están destinados a ser resueltos. Este era el caso con mi clienta cuando semanas después todavía seguía mandándome correos déspotas. Era obvio que sus problemas iban más allá de un simple libro. En medio de todo esto hay un pequeño detalle que se me olvido mencionar y era que este zafarrancho que ella había armado era por un libro de 0.29 centavos.

Como lidias con la gente que esta amargada y -lo peor- te echa la culpa?

1.- Crea una carpeta especial: Hay una manera muy sabia de lidiar con este tipo de gente, y es simplemente no lidiar con ellos. Aquí pongo una foto de mi correo y la carpeta especial en el rectángulo rosado que cree para ella. La próxima vez que ella me mande otro de sus correos venenosos no tengo porque leerlos sino que van directamente a esa carpeta. Lo mejor de todo es que cuando quiera, lo único que tengo que hacer es presionar al botón “Borrar” y todo ese basurero que ella escribe va a la papelera. Hazlo, limpia tu correo, crea una carpeta y deshazte de la gente negativa.

Mi super carpeta

2.- No te enganches: Tengo que admitir que esta regla es bien difícil de seguir. Requiere de práctica, paciencia y disciplina. Y más práctica y más paciencia y más disciplina. Al principio mi reacción era simplemente engancharme con este tipo de gente, mandaba correos, llamaba, enviaba textos, etc., y de ahí solo salía más caos. La gente falsa y déspota se regocija en esos dimes y diretes. Además NADIE cambia a nadie, así que tus esfuerzos serán en vano. Olvídate de mandar esos correos, te quitan energía para hacer lo que realmente quieres hacer. La ultima vez que agarre a alguien hablando mal a mis espaldas simplemente le di las gracias, me monte en el carro y me fui. No hay más nada que decir, nada que agregar, ya todo esta dicho. En algún lado leí que la verdadera libertad vendrá cuando no nos importe lo que la gente piense o diga de nosotros. Creo en esto firmemente. No dejes que te afecte. Ponlo a prueba.

No te enganches con la gente negativa

3.- No te contagies: Empieza a salir con gente negativa y eventualmente serás uno de ellos. El ser venenoso es una epidemia – se contagia. Esto lo se por experiencia propia, pues tengo que reconocer que a veces me he comportado tal cual como ellos. Pero lo mas importante no es el pasado sino el presente y como nos vemos, yo creo que todos somos vasijas, una vasija la puedes llenar con agua limpia o sucia, tu escoges. Yo he decidido llenar la mía con agua limpia, y eso incluye evitar en lo posible comportarme como ellos (criticar, chismear, envidiar). Si en algún momento sientes le necesidad de mandar un correo o llamar a alguien a reclamarle algo que no tiene solución solo escríbelo pero no lo mandes, bórralo y ya, olvídate de eso, ni pienses en ellos. Otra opción es tener un cuaderno, la idea es que lo saques de tu sistema sin tener que envenenar a nadie. Ya hay suficiente veneno en el mundo. No agregues más. En vez de eso, haz un cambalache y rodéate de gente que te aprecia sinceramente como persona y que tenga un actitud positiva ante la vida.

Ni se te ocurra hacer esto, te puedes contagiar

4.- Enfócate: Es muy fácil echarle la culpa a los demás -el dijo, ella hizo- etc. Una de las cosas mas difíciles es el ser 100% honestos con nosotros mismos. Así que antes de señalar a otros enfócate en ti mismo y pregúntate si de alguna manera estas contribuyendo con todo el enredo. Eres parte de las malas lenguas? Estas creando mas energía negativa? Es importante reconocer esto en nosotros, pues de ser así estas dando un paso gigantesco hacia tu propia tranquilidad mental. Velo de esta manera, hay seis billones de habitantes en el mundo, la mayoría están pasando por situaciones similares o peores que las tuyas, así que expande la ventanita en la cual te ves metido. Hay un ejercicio muy fácil que es simplemente mirar al cielo, siente su grandeza y respira profundo.

Antes de juzgar a otros mirate a ti mismo

5.- Medita: Detesto meditar, por que? Pues porque es súper difícil. A quien le gusta estar sentado en una almohada con la piernas cruzadas por media hora sin juzgar nada ni a nadie? Las piernas se me duermen, mi pensamientos corren a full velocidad, imposible! Pero la verdad prefiero lidiar con mis problemas que lidiar con los de los demás. Sin embargo, si no quieres o no te gusta meditar hay otras opciones, como sentir el olor a tierra mojada después de la lluvia, sentir la brisa, ir a la playa y ver el mar o simplemente sonreírle a alguien en la calle o mejor aun, sonreírte a ti mismo en el espejo. Sonreír es el mejor antídoto para combatir la negatividad y los problemas de la vida cotidiana. Sonríe.

Haters, Amazon and a Hook

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“I think it’s awful and I’ll remember your name so as not to do business with you again…Just sucks…this is a real embarrassment. This just sucks. I won’t buy anything from you agian [sic], you can’t even tell the truth….”

I sell books on Amazon. I had just gotten out of the shower when I got this email, a customer being unhappy about her order. Being a perfectionist and a people pleaser I was beyond disappointed with this outcome. I don’t like it when I under-deliver, to me it’s a sign of weakness. I don’t want to be weak. So overall is not my intention to piss people off, let alone when money is involved. It hurts my business. I was mortified with her email so I refunded her money quickly with the right amount of apologies explaining that it was clearly our mistake and that we will do our best to try to fix it. I let her keep the book.

My customer

But even though I think everything has a solution some things are just not meant to be solved. This was clearly the case when her cranky emails kept coming my way -weeks later. And then a negative feedback on Amazon. She was unhappy beyond her book and clearly there was NOTHING I could do to fix this. Here’s the catch, her book, the one she ordered from me, was only 0.29 cents.

How do you deal with people who are bitter and blame you for it?

1.- Make a special folder: This is how you deal with crappy people, you don’t. Here is a snapshot at my Inbox. Next time this person emails me blaming me for her miseries of life, her emails will go straight to the folder in that pink rectangle, the crappy people folder. The beauty of this is that when I want to, I can press “Purge” and is all gone. I don’t have to deal with it. Someone should come up with that purge button option but for the real world. So go ahead, purge that negativity and make yourself a “Crappy People Folder” label it whatever you want and start cleaning up your Inbox. Be kind to yourself.

My Most Important Folder

2.- Don’t bite the hook: I admit, this one takes a lot of time and practice, and patience and dedication and discipline and then more time. When you think you got it, go back to step one and repeat. It takes years to develop this discipline. I would email/call/talk to these kind of people, the results? we would get tangled in an endless I said/you said/they did chaos. But who am I to think I could possibly change someone? I was being arrogant. Crappy people love the back and forth chaos they create, ultimately they’re not worth your time and stress. They are, in fact, a drainer to your energy and creativity. The last time I caught someone talking behind my back I thanked the person, got in my car and left. What was I supposed to say? Why are you being crappy? It’s useless. Stop it. Don’t fight it. I read somewhere that real freedom comes when you stop caring about what people think about you. This is the right opportunity to put this into practice. Do it.

This could be the Most. Lethal. Weapon. Ever.

3.- Don’t become one of them: Hang out with haters and eventually you’ll become one too. It’s a contagious disease. I know this because at times I’ve been the crappy one. I don’t want to be a crappy person. The way I see it is that we all are vases. You can choose to fill yours with clean water or muddy water, your choice. I have chosen to fill mine with clean water. This includes not talking about others or help spreading rumors. If you suddenly feel the urge to be crappy (as I have) write that email but do not send it, delete it. A notebook is also handy, get it out of your system if you have to, and then forget about it.  Also scan your thoughts, are you wasting precious minutes of your day thinking negative stuff about them? And why? Swap negative people for people who truly like you. People who think you are the bomb! People who are proud of your accomplishments (we ALL have them) and who look up to you.

Don't try this, it could backfire on you.

4.- Focus on YOU: This one can be tricky. It’s easy to project ourselves and blame others. He/she/they did, blah blah blah. Too often I find it very hard to be completely honest with myself. So before pointing fingers at someone else, focus on you. Am I contributing to the whole mess? What’s the real reason for me to email or call this person? Am I being crappy myself? It took me a while to finally come to terms that, yes, I can be THAT person sometimes, so if you have to, recognize this quality on you, by doing so you’ll be a step ahead of becoming a happier you. There are six billion people in the world, most of them facing similar or even worse suffering than you, try to expand that tiny window that we call life and breathe. Look up into the open sky and feel the infinite space, that’s where you belong.

Before judging others take a closer look at yourself.

5.- Meditate: I hate meditation, yet, I do it. In the heat of the moment I sit on my zafu and try to do something with my mind. I try to count sheep. Mind doesn’t want to count sheep. Count sheep! This becomes a power struggle, but better struggling with myself than with someone else’s issues I cannot fix. The idea here is to switch your attention from that negative scenario to something else or even better turn it into something positive. I find this exhausting but somehow productive. It’s a work in progress so don’t judge yourself too hard if at first you don’t succeed -because you won’t (unless you’re a monk that meditates all day in a cave, in that case you won’t need to count sheep). But the more you practice the better and quicker results you’ll get. Alternatives to meditation: sex, count your breaths, roll down the window and feel the breeze, look up into the open sky, smell the rain, talk to a senior in your local library, smile at the person in the car next to you at the traffic light. This will make you smile (hopefully). Smiling feels good. Always.

6 cosas que puedes hacer cuando la inspiracion para escribir se te ha ido al suelo

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Ya hace más de veinte años que compre ese cuaderno rosado, ese donde acostumbraba a escribir todo lo que me pasaba por la mente. Esa era la época cuando escribir significaba sentarse con una pluma y un papel por delante. En mi cuaderno ponía citas de gente como Albert Einstein, Victor Hugo, Gabriel Garcia Marquez y Khalil Gibran. Esto fue mucho antes que existiera el Facebook y el Twitter, en ese entonces nadie tenía un “blog” y los Blackberries eran una fruta comestible. La cosa es que por alguna razón un día deje de escribir, sabía que algún día lo retomaría y lo más curioso es que aunque detesto el rosado, todavía conservo mi cuaderno de toda la vida.

Mi cuaderno!

Después de decidir si iba a tener mi propio sitio web o no, escoger el nombre, etc., ya estaba lista para empezar mi propio blog. Ese día recuerdo que me senté frente a mi computadora y abrí la página editorial, sin saber que iba a escribir mire fijamente la pantalla por unos minutos que se hicieron más largos que un desfile e’ culebras. Nada de nada, no me pasaba absolutamente nada por la cabeza, mi mente estaba en blanco. No me preocupe mucho y me dije a mi misma, mañana trato de nuevo, lo cual hice, obteniendo el mismo resultado. Así pase una semana, y después de tantos días empecé a sentir la angustia de querer escribir algo y no poder hacerlo, me frustre, pase noches en vela pensando que nunca iba a poder empezar a escribir de nuevo.

Yo, hace unas semanas

Qué pasa? Porque es tan difícil inspirarme?  Ya esto del blog me tiene medio obstinada y eso que aun no empiezo! Quizá esto del blog no sea buena idea después de todo.  La cosa es que eventualmente desistí por unos días, fue ahí mismo cuando todo pasó, todo vino de repente.  Aquí te dejo seis “tips” o cosas que puedes hacer cuando quieres escribir y no te sale nada de la cabeza.

Ríndete: Desiste de la idea de “tener” que hacer algo o de forzarte hacer algo, en este caso, escribir. Imagina que la mente es como un niño, mientras más la persigas más rápido saldrá corriendo.  En mi caso puedo decir que las veces en mi vida que me he sentido acorralada por alguna razón siempre he salido huyendo.  Así que no te presiones, en vez de eso se flexible. Las cosas forzadas raramente funcionan. No fue sino hasta que por fin me olvide de la idea de tener que escribir algo y me distraje por unos días que finalmente logre escribir. No te atosigues.

Me rindo!

Escucha: Ahora te toca escuchar, escuchar que? Pues todo lo que pasa por tu mente, presta atención y empieza a escribir. La inspiración llega como un rayo veloz -en cualquier momento y donde sea. Por alguna razón en mi caso era cuando fregaba, lo bueno es que mi computadora siempre esta prendida así que me podías ver corriendo de la cocina a la sala escribiendo lo que sea que me pasara por la mente. Solo escribe, aunque sea una o dos oraciones, pero escribe que mientras más escribas más escribirás. El cerebro es como un musculo, mientras más lo ejercitas más creativo será.  Trata de hacer esto por unas semanas y ve que pasa. En mi caso yo termine con quince artículos escritos en solo unos días.

Cómprate un cuaderno: Tengo otro cuaderno –uno verde. Ese cuaderno tiene tres divisiones, la primera es para ideas en general, la segunda para ideas para mi blog, la tercera para preguntas y cosas misceláneas.  Esto me ha servido de mucho pues cuando pienso que no tengo nada que escribir, lo único que tengo que hacer es abrir el cuaderno y ver lo que escribí anteriormente, es una fuente de inspiración constantemente.

Mi otro cuaderno :-)

Olvídate de las metas: Antes de empezar con mi blog siempre me fijaba metas: “Al final del día de hoy debo de haber escrito un artículo completo.” Eso nunca funciona o al menos nunca funciono conmigo, acuérdate que mientras más te presionas en hacer algo mas le huiras, se vuelve contraproducente. Así que olvídate de esas metas, a la final lo que importa es mantener el cerebro activo lo más posible, lo demás es añadidura.

Créate un horario: Todos tenemos historias que contar, así que llegara un momento donde te encontraras inspirado a cualquier hora, ese el momento preciso para crearte un horario para escribir. A mí me pasaba que me despertaba en la medianoche con la inspiración a millón y aunque tratara de dormir no podía, escribe, escribe, escribe! Casi que podía oír mi propia voz dictándome, que locura!

Ahora escribo a las 5am la mayoría del tiempo

Para evitar esto ahora me acuesto temprano -a más tardar a las 10pm y me levanto a las 5am a escribir, ese es el momento donde mi creatividad esta al máximo. A estas alturas no es recomendable caer en la tentación de escribir a cualquier hora, es importante que crees tu propio habito y establecer un tiempo especifico para esto. Fija una hora donde te sientas cómodo y sin distracciones para que le dediques a la escritura.

Si nada funciona:Por último, cuando has intentado de todo y nada te ha funcionado, trata de hacer algo diferente: Inténtalo con café y algo de jazz. Jazz me inspira, creo que podría escribir por horas solo de escuchar Jazz. El iTunes tiene una estación excelente, se llama Jazz-New Orleans 89.9, me fascina, me relaja, la recomiendo a todo el que pueda tenerla. Lo otro es el café, el café -como buen estimulante que es- me pone a millón, ideas súper creativas y a veces alocadas fluyen cada vez que me tomo una o dos tazas de café -negro y sin azúcar por favor!  La idea que es encuentres algo que te motive, que te inspire, incorpóralo a tu rutina y veras lo que pasa.

No me imagino escribir sin un buen café.

6 Things You Can Do When You Want to Write but Your Brain Says No

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It was well over twenty years ago that I bought that pink notebook. I would write stuff going through my head at the time and would quote guys like Albert Einstein, Victor Hugo, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Khalil Gibran. I started writing in my teenage years, way before Facebook, Penelope Trunk or James Altucher’s spectacular blog. But for some reason I stopped writing altogether, I knew I’ll eventually start writing again. I just didn’t have a deadline. I hate pink but I still have that pink notebook.

My Pink Notebook

After setting up a website and a blog -and twenty something years later-  I was finally ready to start writing again. On that day, I sat at my computer and opened my editor’s page, I had no idea what it was going to happen and that’s exactly what happened, I stared at a blank page for endless minutes hoping for something to cross my mind. Then the next day same thing and the day after that one. I did this for almost a week. My neck and back were in pain from all that tension, the stress that I needed to produce something and fast! By the end of the week I could barely sleep at night, which it didn’t help the next day when it was time to sit at the computer again and another blank page to stare at.

Me, a few weeks ago

Nothing was happening, why? I started doubting myself, maybe I don’t have anything to say or maybe I’m just not a good writer, is that even possible to be an awful writer before writing anything? But one day everything came. Here are six tips to help you write when your brain says no.

Give up: Play by your own rules which means no rules. Treat your brain as a child, don’t force it to produce anything, don’t corner it. I know the times in my life that I have felt cornered, I’ve ran away, so let it flow. Be flexible. Take no pressure. It wasn’t until I completely surrendered and took the pressure off my shoulders that the right combination of words came up. Eventually your brain will get the message that is time to put thoughts in order and it will start talking, which takes me to the next point.

Listen: Let your brain decides when and what to write. For me, it was usually when I was doing the dishes at night and all of the sudden, it would come like a light bolt, my computer is always on so I would rush from the kitchen to the computer to write. I did that for a few days and ended up with about fifteen half way posts the first week. Just make sure you don’t ignore it, you want to encourage the writing so pay attention to everything that goes through your mind. I wrote anything my mind said, even if it was just a few sentences, an idea, a topic, anything goes. No questions asked. No judging. Just writing. Do that for a few weeks. At the beginning you are creating the habit of writing so don’t worry about forcing the brain into a particular time to write.  I went from having a blank mind to having a mind filled with ideas and stories to tell. I finally got it, my brain was willing to cooperate with me as long as I didn’t put any pressure on it.

Keep a log: I keep a three-subject notebook. Part one is for general ideas, two is for blog topics and three for business ideas and questions for James Altucher. This green thing is an unlimited source of ideas (as long as I keep adding) It works. When I panic about not having anything to write I go back and read some of my previous ideas or questions or topics and then expand. Some of them are crappy ideas but who cares? My brain is getting a full workout, I’ve had written entire posts now that came from this source -the green notebook.

Don’t set goals: I used to say something like, by the end of today I’m going to have one entire post of 1500 words, that approach NEVER worked. I was blank. So get off those goals, forget about them. Just write whatever your brain tells you. Write every day, even if is only one sentence, eventually you’ll write more, guaranteed. It’s important to exercise your brain, keep it lubed by letting it get used to writing producing ideas and putting them on paper (or on a blog per say).

Time slot: Now that you have stimulated your brain enough it’s time to create a time slot to write. The brain is like a child, when a baby says “mommy” for the first time everybody is ecstatic, that feeling goes away when you hear “mommy” at three in the morning -everyday. Same thing here, after a few weeks of being used to writing at any time, I would wake up in the middle of the night with ideas for posts, businesses, questions, topics, a complete nightmare! As much as I wanted to go back to sleep I couldn’t, write, write, write, I could hear my brain telling me. I even bought a laptop cart so I could write in the middle of the night without having to turn on my PC and wake up my son with keyword clicks.

Most of my posts are written at 5am these days

So avoid this by creating a time slot to write, for me now is around five in the morning. Don’t succumb to the urge to write at a time that is not convenient for you, unless you want that to become a habit. If you wake up at three in the morning and you don’t want to write then just don’t, doing so will just reinforce that behavior. If going back to sleep is not an option (because your mind is racing) then try to do an activity that bores you, for me is meditation (more on this on another post). Kick your brain in the butt and this will become your writing routine.

When everything else fails: Try coffee and Jazz. Jazz inspires me, I could probably write for a long time just by listening to Jazz. iTunes has an excellent radio station: Jazz-New Orleans 89.9, pure bliss 24/7. I’m listening to it as I’m writing this. Coffee gets me on fire, it brings the most exciting and bold ideas out of me. So find something that motivates you, it could be music or a magazine or a book, maybe even some yoga and incorporate that into your writing routine.

Mine is not nearly as fancy but still very yummy!