Yesterday, I wrote about 350 new words of fiction. If I compared that word count to what I used to produce 2 years ago, I might get depressed. Unless I consider other elements…
like the fact that the 10-15 pages a day I used to be able to write in the
past, were about 75 percent crap… which meant that I spent an insane amount of
time editing, rewriting and glaring at the mess. Today, my average goes from
750 to 1500 words, but they are usually very good words.
I
feel the same about physical fitness. When my body was at its prime, I could
wake up at 5:13am, exercise for an hour and a half, eat breakfast, write my
10-15 pages, and go on with my day. I did this 5-7 times a week. And my workout
plan was as undisciplined as my writing used to be. I only did what I felt like
doing that day, and didn’t matter much; spending 90 minutes, 5-7 times
a week, running around like a loon burned a lot of calories. But you know what?
I no longer have that kind of time. As with my writing, I need to go from length
to quality.
So my goal for the Into Spring Fitness challenge, which I joined a few days ago,
is to teach myself to maximize the time I dedicate to physical fitness. I will
begin by exercising 45 minutes to an hour, 3 times a week, 45 minutes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 60 minutes on Saturdays (I want to accumulate 13 broom points per week). I will also schedule
my workout sessions in a way that will benefit my writing. I’ll try different things,
and see what works best.
Next week, Sunday, I’ll have my first report of my juggling of writing, exercising... *fingers crossed*
When do you workout, before or after writing? Does it make a difference?
My philosophy in anything I do has always been quality over quantity. It's worked for me professionally and personally.
ReplyDeleteI think it took me a few decades of life to gain that wisdom. There was a time when I was all about speed, amount and instant gratification. I've learned to enjoy the process and realized how much I've missed. I'm getting it back!
Deletehaha...nice title.
ReplyDeleteOH...you're talking about exercise?!! well, i guess the answer would be the same in most cases...quality.
me? work out?! i wish. oh i start a routine but slowly get out of it. i mean i GET a lot of exercise just in my daily life...BUT that doesn't count. i try to talk myself into getting up earlier in the morn ('cause that's when i'd like to work out)...but i already get up before 5...
oh well...i'll just keep up those quality work outs in my dreams! :)
good luck with yours!
Dreams are very helpful exercise tools ;-)
DeleteI would love to work out in the morning, but the morning is my best writing time, so the exercise has to wait till I return from the office... the only alternative would be getting up even earlier, and then the BF and I would have no time together at all, for I would undoubtedly collapse at 8 P.M. ... ^^
ReplyDeleteSame here, about working out in the morning and writing. I need to find a happy medium.
DeleteI've been on the exercise train lately too.... I must do something about this poor neglected body. I've let myself go for way too long and now reaping the harvest of that poor decision (sigh). I've been mostly spending my time walking in the forest on the weekends and doing Zumba once a week after work. It's not much, but its something, and I have to start slow and work my way up. So right now it's more quantity that quality for me, I think. Just motivating myself to get active is a major feat, so any get-up-and-go-activity is reason to applaud myself these days.
ReplyDeleteYou've been doing more than I have. I'm terrible when it comes to working out during the winter months. I like the cold, when I'm inside; that's it. But spring is here, so I can run again!
DeleteGood for you Magaly! For me, I love to work out in the morning. I just can't seem to work out after 1:00pm. Not good for me. You know I don't write, but I love to paint, at night ;o)
ReplyDeleteOf course you write, I still have a memory of a werewolf and a beautiful girl dancing at a club ;-)
DeleteAnd I like working out in the morning, too. I think the Marine Corps ruined me for life lol. When you spend 10 years getting up before 5am to exercise, it is hard to tell the body that it needs to change its ways.
I would go for quality every time...but don't tell hubby, it will give him a complex :P, and anything that gets the energy flowing is a good idea before creativity begins :D XXX
ReplyDeleteI'm all about getting the blood and the energy flowing before creating ;-)
DeleteQuality is always better than quantity. :)
ReplyDeleteI usually exercise first; I get all kinds of ideas while on my walks... If only I could remember them all when I got home! *Sigh*
Physically, it would make more sense for me to exercise first, but I get up too early, so I end up writing first. Maybe one day... I'll be able to change the schedule.
DeleteLOL, your mention of getting up at a little after 5 am and being psyched to exercise brings back memories. I used to run when I was in my 20's usually about 3.5 miles at least 3 times a week, and usually before work. Which meant getting up at about 5 am, as at that time I was a single mom. I walk now, because I am a bit older, and because I can walk in just about any weather. It just works better for me. But I am really enjoying the memories of those early-morning workouts!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about enjoying memories. I do the same when I think about exercising in the past, things are not the same, but they are good in their own way, right?
DeleteI am undisciplined in writing and working out. Getting up early would get me that quiet time...but I'm already getting the kids up at 6:00 am. I don't know, I need to really think this through, how to do everything I want to.
ReplyDeleteI've been a bit terrible lately. I think it has to do with all the time I spent at my writing studio. It is nice to have a place where I can just write like a loon, but I like being close to my Piano Man all the time. He inspires me to get out of the house and do things. To take breaks from writing, so exercising is not boring or a task.
DeleteI write whenever the mood strikes me. Structured writing always fails to sound good. I envy those who can do it though.
ReplyDeleteI'm a chaotic combination of both, but the more I practice the more I'm able to make the choice.
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