Slow Starts Are Okay.

I used to have a problem.

I’d wake up, roll over, and immediately check the notifications on my phone. Within a few seconds of waking up, there was a comment I just had to address, a name I was sick of seeing in the news, or an email that required my immediate attention.

My mind would fire up like the DeLorean hitting eighty-eight miles per hour. Inevitably one task would turn into two, multiple solutions to mute news feeds would present themselves or whoever was on the other end of that email had a quick response. Bear in mind I haven’t even gotten out of bed yet, much less addressed my bladder problem.

Remember how in the original Back To The Future, Marty got back to 1985 and promptly destroyed a theater? This was what my mind did. Thinking it motivated me, on fire, omnipotent, getting things done so quickly had me thinking I’M GOING TO REWRITE THE ENTIRE INTERNET RIGHT HERE, FROM THIS BED.

I did not rewrite the internet. I would walk around the rest of the day in a half daze of depression, wondering why I was so sad and tired as I justified, again, pushing off writing for one more day.

Nearly twenty pages into a recent novel and regularly producing on social media, I came to realize that the comments, emails and news will still be there (especially the news). It’s far better to let yourself wake up, acclimate to the day, and tackle things when you’re ready for them.

The only obligations we have to our social media and creative endeavors are the ones we place on ourselves, unless we’re contracted (and I’m not). The aim is to complete a quality product that will enhance the lives of your readers and viewers. How you get there is up to you.

Starting fast and strong is great, but slow starts are okay too. The trick is finding out which works for you, and then applying it.

Thanks for reading.