I use the small increase method when I walk and exercise. Every little increase makes a difference in the long run. It's a great way to increase a writing habit or practice as well.
It is interesting to see the small, incremental writing habits listed. Even though I know they add up exponentially over time, just seeing them in print makes their results more tangible.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all at your farm, Janisse🧡. All of your Thanksgiving gratitudes are returned to you, from me. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you so much for this! These are very manageable steps, although, like you, it would be difficult to stick to just the one-percent level, but it's an excellent reminder that these small steps lead to much greater progress.
Using "tools" and concepts for crafting words, introduced to us during Janisse's workshops (nature journaling, archetypes, master the flash, metaphors, and, so far, two challenging courses; Journey in Place and Creative Non- Fiction) add strength and help for improving my writing habits and content. These workshops and courses make writing every day a more enjoyable activity. They help me set practical writing goals and improve the way I organize work needed to put thoughts to paper (or screen). Writing daily is rewarding and enjoyable in ways that help calm my troubled mind and soul. Bit-by-bit, adding time needed to work on a new Substack (beginning in January), and an interesting piece or another started this year, adds to the enjoyment and leads to fulfillment.
Mark, this is beautiful. I'm very grateful to you. I wish you all the best with your upcoming Substack. I want to give you a tiny piece of advice--small pieces are okay. You don't have to write a long essay with each post. If you do a long piece on some element of prairie, feel free to divide it up into smaller posts and make it last longer. The bigger movement is you finding the people who want and need you. Let me know if I can help you.
Janisse, your advice is treasured. I quite agree about small pieces being ok. I'll work on that. Maybe invent a celebration for cutting words. Could be a tough challenge when thoughts flow faster than the hand can write, moving through my mind like ebbing grains of sand through an hourglass. Thank you Janisse.
What I took from this (and one of your recent classes) is the idea of small actions adding up — but it's not necessarily a gradual increase. It's just that on days when something feels difficult, I take one small step. There's an essay I've been struggling with, so I tell myself to just open the document. Sometimes that gives me ideas and I write a little; sometimes I just read part of it and get ideas throughout the day; either way I feel better than if I ignored it. This has carried over to my legal writing and other tasks, like baking (e.g., just take the ingredients out of the cabinet in the morning, and measure the dry ingredients in the afternoon.) Hmmm, I think I'm talking about something else, not exactly what James Clear intended, but it's what the idea of atomic habits inspired!
I use the small increase method when I walk and exercise. Every little increase makes a difference in the long run. It's a great way to increase a writing habit or practice as well.
That's an interesting use of the method, to improve exercise. Nice!
It’s been very helpful!
Your motivational words are much appreciated.
Your writing is much appreciated!
It is interesting to see the small, incremental writing habits listed. Even though I know they add up exponentially over time, just seeing them in print makes their results more tangible.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all at your farm, Janisse🧡. All of your Thanksgiving gratitudes are returned to you, from me. Thank you, thank you.
I'm grateful for you, Jenny.
❤️
Thank you so much for this! These are very manageable steps, although, like you, it would be difficult to stick to just the one-percent level, but it's an excellent reminder that these small steps lead to much greater progress.
This post was a bit of a thought experiment, Amy, so really it's a reminder to keep doing what we do.
Always inspiring! Thank you!
I'm grateful for you, Mary. Thanks for your courage.
I’m grateful for you and Raven. Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Cathy. Love from our house to yours.
We did! Love to the three of you.
Using "tools" and concepts for crafting words, introduced to us during Janisse's workshops (nature journaling, archetypes, master the flash, metaphors, and, so far, two challenging courses; Journey in Place and Creative Non- Fiction) add strength and help for improving my writing habits and content. These workshops and courses make writing every day a more enjoyable activity. They help me set practical writing goals and improve the way I organize work needed to put thoughts to paper (or screen). Writing daily is rewarding and enjoyable in ways that help calm my troubled mind and soul. Bit-by-bit, adding time needed to work on a new Substack (beginning in January), and an interesting piece or another started this year, adds to the enjoyment and leads to fulfillment.
Mark, this is beautiful. I'm very grateful to you. I wish you all the best with your upcoming Substack. I want to give you a tiny piece of advice--small pieces are okay. You don't have to write a long essay with each post. If you do a long piece on some element of prairie, feel free to divide it up into smaller posts and make it last longer. The bigger movement is you finding the people who want and need you. Let me know if I can help you.
Janisse, your advice is treasured. I quite agree about small pieces being ok. I'll work on that. Maybe invent a celebration for cutting words. Could be a tough challenge when thoughts flow faster than the hand can write, moving through my mind like ebbing grains of sand through an hourglass. Thank you Janisse.
What I took from this (and one of your recent classes) is the idea of small actions adding up — but it's not necessarily a gradual increase. It's just that on days when something feels difficult, I take one small step. There's an essay I've been struggling with, so I tell myself to just open the document. Sometimes that gives me ideas and I write a little; sometimes I just read part of it and get ideas throughout the day; either way I feel better than if I ignored it. This has carried over to my legal writing and other tasks, like baking (e.g., just take the ingredients out of the cabinet in the morning, and measure the dry ingredients in the afternoon.) Hmmm, I think I'm talking about something else, not exactly what James Clear intended, but it's what the idea of atomic habits inspired!