4. “Environment matters.” My daughter had a brilliant suggestion about changing up my writing space. My office is in her former bedroom, and still has her childhood bed in a nook we built for it. I’ve kept it with the ridiculous thought that at some point she’d want to move home again (she’s 39) or that it would make a nice guest room. I just decided that the bed’s going away and that the space is now inviolably mine. I am now a permanent resident of A Room of My Own.😊
Looking at the five lessons from the book you detailed after getting into the habit of playing the guitar I can say that consistency (every day), habit stacking (after making coffee), self-perception (now I can say I'm a guitar player), and environment (having the guitar sitting next to the desk) all added up to help me playing every day and improving. I didn't plan it out that way, but I do think that all of those things have contributed to successfully practicing every day.
This Monday I wrote a note to self - “My dear, active mind, you are ‘off duty’ this week.” As an invitation for creative energy to settle down into the body so that we could work together, as a whole. I had never thought of the body/mind as an *environment,* that shapes behavior, until moments ago, yes! I am not usually so exclamatory, but ! is the best expression of how I feel when I read your pieces.
I could go on… this is all to say thank you for your work. It is fresh, inspired, inspiring and important. 🙌
You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.
I really need to think about this: I thought I had systems, but it may be that I don't fully appreciate why they don't work ie why 'do it at lunch time' isn't a system!
Oooo such a good thought and something I need to consider too. Like: what IS a system that works for a writing habit beyond "do it at x time"? If you come up with anything I'd love to hear it!
Yes, that's the question. I'm still figuring out scheduling; need to choose a time that's actually feasible, not a time that I'd like/wish to use. More pragmatism, less wishful thinking.
For me, having a self-imposed deadline of publishing every Sunday, come hell or high water, creates the system. It's kind of a retrograde motion effect in that I have the deadline, so I have to write.
I do like that way of approaching it..centres the making. More food for thought :).
For another take on 'systems', can't resist mentioning that I'm reading Inger Christensen's astonishing 'Alphabet'. (Poems generated by a system: combination of the alphabet with the Fibonacci sequence.) Just wonderful.
Perfect timing and so needed! I’ve been in a rut creatively but reading this reminded me of all the good habits I had when I was writing/editing consistently.
Yesss, Jen! Please keep me posted as you read. Really excited to see what stands out and to be reminded of parts I may have forgotten about. So many fascinating examples in there.
Maya, Thank you for this piece—so much food for thought! I've read Atomic Habits a couple times, though I'm due for a revisit. The concept that goes to the heart of the matter for me is the inextricable link between our identity and behaviors/habits. Though I love and feel compelled to write poetry, I often find it difficult to make space for writing in my daily life. Without an audience or publication, I haven't claimed "writer" or "poet" as an identity yet. Thank you for the reminder that if I just keep showing up to the page, writing word after word after word, my sense of identity can shift over time—it's a powerful idea.
This was so timely. I’ve read the book but hadn’t applied it to my writing habits. I was just thinking what if I started acting as a writer (and adopt the habits of one) today and stopped waiting for some far off day when I would have permission to do so, and then saw this post. Thank you!
reading Atomic Habits did wonders to my writing practice — really got me thinking about how to implement even just 15 mins a day. also, highly recommend Hidden Potential by Adam Grant in relation to the notes made on potential!!
I read Atomic Habits at the start of the year and have been applying the principles to so many aspects of my life, including my poetry-writing practice. Habit stacking and writing in a carefully cultivated environment have worked wonders. Thanks for writing this piece, Maya! ❤️
Thank you for this great summary. I, too, listened to the book on audio and was horrified by his high school injury.
“Set aside notions of what the work should look like and focus instead on consistently showing up.” This is the line that is resonating with me now. I look forward to more conversations and learning from everyone.
Thank you for such an inspiring article ! It resonated with Emily Dickinson's "For every Bird a Nest" poem which I have been musing on this past week, especially the two last stanza
" The Lark is not ashamed
To build upon the ground
Her modest house --
Yet who of all the throng
Dancing around the sun
Does so rejoice ? "
Not only will building up our creative practice little by little (1% by 1%!), modestly, with those things that are available to us, actually result in a finished "nest" much sooner than waiting for *the* perfect opportunity (or inspiration) or avoiding showing up for our creative self in fear of failing our expectations; but it also brings so much more joy into the day-to-day ups and downs of creating, because it allows us to rejoice and celebrate every little step rather than holding out our bliss for the "big" moments !
So thank you for your words, I'll definitely be sure to start safeguarding those little habits which seem so insignificant but are the building blocks of being who I want to be !
Thank you for sharing tips from this book. I knew about it, but never managed to read it. Habit stacking worked really great for me, although I did not know it's name. I was always complaining I do not read enough poetry till I decide it to read some poems every day, with the coffee. I am doing this for 2 months and I enjoy this habit so much!
Amazing that you naturally arrived there! It’s totally worth checking out the book if you get a moment, and very easy to listen to it while doing other things. 💛
Thank you for this. I love that “committing to the process of continuous improvement” works against looking at the success of others further along the line and becoming disheartened because you’re not there. It’s so easy to do that and set oneself back. I needed this message right now. Thank you so much 🙏
4. “Environment matters.” My daughter had a brilliant suggestion about changing up my writing space. My office is in her former bedroom, and still has her childhood bed in a nook we built for it. I’ve kept it with the ridiculous thought that at some point she’d want to move home again (she’s 39) or that it would make a nice guest room. I just decided that the bed’s going away and that the space is now inviolably mine. I am now a permanent resident of A Room of My Own.😊
If it worked for V. Woolf...
I'm thrilled about this! One hundred percent the move! Make it as beautiful as you want your writing to be. x
I love this, Mary.
Looking at the five lessons from the book you detailed after getting into the habit of playing the guitar I can say that consistency (every day), habit stacking (after making coffee), self-perception (now I can say I'm a guitar player), and environment (having the guitar sitting next to the desk) all added up to help me playing every day and improving. I didn't plan it out that way, but I do think that all of those things have contributed to successfully practicing every day.
Amazing endorsement for this working! 🤣 Love that you intuitively arrived there!!!
Maya, it all resonated!
This Monday I wrote a note to self - “My dear, active mind, you are ‘off duty’ this week.” As an invitation for creative energy to settle down into the body so that we could work together, as a whole. I had never thought of the body/mind as an *environment,* that shapes behavior, until moments ago, yes! I am not usually so exclamatory, but ! is the best expression of how I feel when I read your pieces.
I could go on… this is all to say thank you for your work. It is fresh, inspired, inspiring and important. 🙌
“fulfilled potential is extraordinary, because we stop short of meeting that potential out of fear that we will never be extraordinary.” Wow!!!
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
My favorite line here. Incredible. 🤯
You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.
I really need to think about this: I thought I had systems, but it may be that I don't fully appreciate why they don't work ie why 'do it at lunch time' isn't a system!
Oooo such a good thought and something I need to consider too. Like: what IS a system that works for a writing habit beyond "do it at x time"? If you come up with anything I'd love to hear it!
A question for the ages!
Yes, that's the question. I'm still figuring out scheduling; need to choose a time that's actually feasible, not a time that I'd like/wish to use. More pragmatism, less wishful thinking.
For me, having a self-imposed deadline of publishing every Sunday, come hell or high water, creates the system. It's kind of a retrograde motion effect in that I have the deadline, so I have to write.
'creates the system'
I do like that way of approaching it..centres the making. More food for thought :).
For another take on 'systems', can't resist mentioning that I'm reading Inger Christensen's astonishing 'Alphabet'. (Poems generated by a system: combination of the alphabet with the Fibonacci sequence.) Just wonderful.
I see it is published by New Directions, one of my favorite imprints. Ordering.
excellent : )
That sounds cool, will check it out.
So good: “Set aside notions of what the work should look like and focus instead on consistently showing up to the work.”
It’s a reminder I often need myself! 💕
Perfect timing and so needed! I’ve been in a rut creatively but reading this reminded me of all the good habits I had when I was writing/editing consistently.
Downloading a copy of Atomic Habits now.
Yesss, Jen! Please keep me posted as you read. Really excited to see what stands out and to be reminded of parts I may have forgotten about. So many fascinating examples in there.
Maya, Thank you for this piece—so much food for thought! I've read Atomic Habits a couple times, though I'm due for a revisit. The concept that goes to the heart of the matter for me is the inextricable link between our identity and behaviors/habits. Though I love and feel compelled to write poetry, I often find it difficult to make space for writing in my daily life. Without an audience or publication, I haven't claimed "writer" or "poet" as an identity yet. Thank you for the reminder that if I just keep showing up to the page, writing word after word after word, my sense of identity can shift over time—it's a powerful idea.
This was so timely. I’ve read the book but hadn’t applied it to my writing habits. I was just thinking what if I started acting as a writer (and adopt the habits of one) today and stopped waiting for some far off day when I would have permission to do so, and then saw this post. Thank you!
So glad, Priya. Keep me posted!!
reading Atomic Habits did wonders to my writing practice — really got me thinking about how to implement even just 15 mins a day. also, highly recommend Hidden Potential by Adam Grant in relation to the notes made on potential!!
Ooo, thanks so much for the rec!!! ✨
I read Atomic Habits at the start of the year and have been applying the principles to so many aspects of my life, including my poetry-writing practice. Habit stacking and writing in a carefully cultivated environment have worked wonders. Thanks for writing this piece, Maya! ❤️
Thank you for this great summary. I, too, listened to the book on audio and was horrified by his high school injury.
“Set aside notions of what the work should look like and focus instead on consistently showing up.” This is the line that is resonating with me now. I look forward to more conversations and learning from everyone.
Thank you for such an inspiring article ! It resonated with Emily Dickinson's "For every Bird a Nest" poem which I have been musing on this past week, especially the two last stanza
" The Lark is not ashamed
To build upon the ground
Her modest house --
Yet who of all the throng
Dancing around the sun
Does so rejoice ? "
Not only will building up our creative practice little by little (1% by 1%!), modestly, with those things that are available to us, actually result in a finished "nest" much sooner than waiting for *the* perfect opportunity (or inspiration) or avoiding showing up for our creative self in fear of failing our expectations; but it also brings so much more joy into the day-to-day ups and downs of creating, because it allows us to rejoice and celebrate every little step rather than holding out our bliss for the "big" moments !
So thank you for your words, I'll definitely be sure to start safeguarding those little habits which seem so insignificant but are the building blocks of being who I want to be !
I ordered the book! I've been meaning to read it, so thanks!
Yayy!! Please keep me posted on what you think!
Thank you for sharing tips from this book. I knew about it, but never managed to read it. Habit stacking worked really great for me, although I did not know it's name. I was always complaining I do not read enough poetry till I decide it to read some poems every day, with the coffee. I am doing this for 2 months and I enjoy this habit so much!
Amazing that you naturally arrived there! It’s totally worth checking out the book if you get a moment, and very easy to listen to it while doing other things. 💛
I think I will do that, thank you
Thank you for this. I love that “committing to the process of continuous improvement” works against looking at the success of others further along the line and becoming disheartened because you’re not there. It’s so easy to do that and set oneself back. I needed this message right now. Thank you so much 🙏
So glad it found you today, Grant. I highly recommend the book (you can listen to it on YouTube too, I believe).