Monday Thoughts & Reflections
- melissachoe
- Feb 26, 2024
- 3 min read
When I started this blog, my intention was to regularly share what I believed could bring value to others. I didn’t set specific targets for the number or frequency of posts, choosing instead to trust my desire and diligence to guide me. However, I did set one clear objective for myself: to post consistently.
I had seen many blogs abandoned after only a few posts or a short time, and I was determined not to become one of those bloggers. I believed it was better not to start a blog at all than to have one that was inconsistent or abandoned.
But, as often happens, life intervened. Between my legal practice, coaching business, personal and family matters, other priorities took precedence. By the time I sat down to write, I often found myself short on time or ideas, leading to longer and longer gaps between posts. What started as a weekly commitment turned into monthly posts, then posts every other month, until eventually, three months passed without a single update.
With each passing week, I felt a growing sense of guilt and pressure to make my next post more interesting, which only served to further inhibit my writing. This was how I ended 2023.
The beginning of 2024 seemed like a perfect opportunity for a fresh start, and I had intended to mark it with a new post. However, once again, life got in the way, and I missed my self-imposed deadline. Two weeks went by, and I still hadn't written anything.
Finally, I decided to stop overthinking and just write. But this time, instead of trying to finish a post by Friday of each week, a goal that often left me scrambling and ultimately unfinished, I adopted a new approach. I would start writing something in the middle of the week, with no pressure to finish or post that same week. Over the weekend, I would let my draft simmer in my mind without actively working on it. Then, on Monday, I would read through my draft, revise it and finally, post it.
This new method has been a game-changer for me. Firstly, it has significantly reduced the pressure of meeting deadlines just before the weekend. Previously, I would often find myself in a frantic rush to complete other work-related tasks before the weekend began, as they seemed more urgent. This sense of urgency, coupled with my eagerness to start enjoying the weekend, made me more impatient with my writing. Writing started to feel like just another task on my list, leading to either writer's block with no post at all or a post that I wasn't entirely satisfied with.
Secondly, taking the weekend as a break has proved invaluable. It gives me the much-needed space and time to reflect on my thoughts. Stepping away from the post for a couple of days allows me to return to it with fresh eyes and a renewed perspective, often resulting in more efficient and effective revisions.
Thirdly, posting on Mondays has become a habit that I look forward to. This reflective time not only provides me with a dedicated moment to sit back and think about something meaningful but also helps set a positive and calming mindset and tone for the week ahead. This is especially beneficial on Mondays, which can often feel overwhelming with the sheer volume of tasks that need to be accomplished.
Lastly, I've discovered the value of keeping a running list of topics that inspire me. Whenever a thought, idea or lesson strikes me, I make sure to jot it down in my Notion app. This simple practice has been instrumental in maintaining the consistency and quality of my posts. It acts as a reliable source of ideas to draw from when I'm feeling stuck or uninspired. Additionally, it helps me keep track of what I've already written about, ensuring that the topics I explore remain relevant and meaningful to others.
The journey to consistency has been challenging, but I am grateful for the lessons learned along the way. With this sixth installment of what I hope will be a series of "Monday Thoughts & Reflections," I encourage you to find your own path to consistency. Remember that the best way forward at times is to simply start or re-start, and to not be afraid to change your systems to better suit your needs. Consistency is not about perfection, but about perseverance and adaptation. Happy Monday!
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