I miss writing. I used to write weekly without breaking sweat, but over the last few years I’ve let it slide. Now it’s time for me to get back into writing, which is why I’ve committed to uploading a blog every week for 29 weeks.
Here’s what’s held me back:
1. Lack of prioritisation
It’s easy to prioritise other things (things with actual deadlines). Writing posts goes on the back burner.
As James Clear says in Atomic Habits:
“Make good habits inevitable; make bad habits impossible”
By not publishing, I’ve mastered the habit of being someone who doesn’t write regularly. Making this commitment, it’s my first step to breaking that cycle.
2. Time
Medicine, academia, having family time… It’s hard to find more time in the day.
But as I’ve done with my YouTube videos, it’s about building a system to reduce the friction:
- Build a pattern by breaking the tasks into repeatable stages
- Ring-fence uninterrupted time each day
- Make it a manageable length of time (e.g. 30 minutes)
3. Anxiety
The worry about what people (you) will think of my writing is enough to put me off. Am I really an expert? Will anyone read it?
- Write for me 5 years ago. What would I have wanted to hear back then?
- If I don’t try I’ll never know – show up, publish, do it again the next day
- Don’t take criticism personally. It’s just feedback on my writing
It’s time. Let’s stop talking about it and just do it.