Momentum of the Muse

I love, love, love feedback.

Working from home, writing, there’s very little feedback throughout the day. It’s mostly me, myself and I, without no one else to cheer me on, motivate, complicate, criticize or aid. Sometimes I’ll chore away at all this business for six hours, eight hours, even ten hours straight, and then I’ll feel deflated. Why deflated? Why not accomplished, since I’ve accomplished so much?

With this type of work, nothing is ever truly done. There is always some other string to tie, or untie and tie again tighter. There also isn’t someone telling you what to do next, what a good job you’ve done and what you can improve on for next time. So, to keep up morale in the company, Ive started doing that for myself.

The process goes as follows;

1. Once any task is completed, I get up and walk around. Do a non-work related task, like make a hot chocolate, put on my grad dress, finish off my four daily push-ups. Anything to break up the rhythym and remove myself from the prior mindset.
2. Sit back down. Congratulate myself for having finished. Now, I objectively (as possible) map out what I did well, and what I can improve on the next time.
3. I make whatever revisions that apply, and only now do I check it off my list.
4. After a period of a day to a couple days elapses, I return to the work and review it once more. Then I cross it off the list entirely.

By actively checking and crossing items off the list, I feel that sense of accomplishment that motivates me to complete the tasks I least like. By giving myself moments to relax or switch trains of thought, I feel less drained. Instead of being my own worst critic, I try to also be my own best cheerleader, because balance is important. If I’m not going to compliment me, who is?

What do you do to stay motivated and clear-headed?