I have a secret. It’s embarrassing when I am caught, and I discover someone is listening. Talking to myself, in my head and aloud is a normal occurrence. I assure you, my conversations are rather mundane. Where is my phone? Did I pay the bill? Should I buy lemons at the grocery store? Who is knocking on my front door? Why did I come into this room? Those are typical topics I explore almost daily.

Late at night when the house is finally silent, questions fade and grow quiet. The voice changes and my evening adventure begins. I have heard it since I was a child. It has told me bedtime stories, created imaginary characters, and fantastic worlds. It is my trusted companion. Together we work through complex issues, solving the day’s problems. I write the tales I tell myself and share them with my friends.

What stories will you tell yourself today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

It never fails. I expect it at this time of year. The scratchy throat, watery, itchy eyes, and the achy feeling in my head that makes me wish someone would hit me with a baseball bat because it would hurt less. The timing is impeccable, coinciding with the busiest days before the holidays. You know the pivotal juncture where your plans hinge on expert execution of key details. The week which ensures every beloved family member and each cherished pet will experience a holiday to surpass every other.

The common cold threatens to derail your carefully constructed strategy. Despite astounding medical advances, miraculous modern inventions, they haven’t discovered a cure for this ailment. Doctors say to stay hydrated, get plenty of rest (yeah, right), and drink warm liquids. Homemade chicken soup and brewed tea top the list. My calendar is overflowing, my agenda runs longer than I can manage, and I am clueless how to squeeze in these extra requirements.

The best recommendations say the cold runs its course in one to two weeks. That means I will recover just in time to collapse from exhaustion on Christmas Eve and sleep through until New Year’s Day. Another fabulous holiday preserved forever with photos and my foggy memories.

How do you combat holiday colds?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

December is the month I reserve for reviewing my current year’s progress. I work on big dreams, setting audacious goals, and plotting a strategy to move toward my desired destination. One area I have been analyzing is the number of books I read. This year’s total was abysmal, by my standards. Then, I started thinking about my online reading. I access blogs, emails, newsletters, essays, reviews, and how-to instructions on my laptop or phone, but I don’t include those documents in my goal count. It’s ridiculous.

In the past, I carried physical novels for my downtime, but books are heavy. My cell, tucked in my pocket, is ready to provide me with educational material or a blank screen for my writing. While I enjoy a real book, with my busy life, having one handy is not practical. Dedicating large chunks of time to curl up with a favorite read to meet my goals is a luxury I can ill afford.

The struggle happens when I want to reference a web article, pass the information to a friend or track my reading. So, I am in search of a tracking method. Bookmarks are cumbersome, and syncing across devices is difficult. There are apps like Evernote that can help, but they don’t guard against the dreaded 404 error. I haven’t decided on an approach that works for me. I am adding another task I need to complete.

Do you keep track of your online reading?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Waking each morning represents my day’s primary challenge. But hitting the snooze button, and snuggling in my warm cocoon longer than I should, exacerbates my problems, and creates additional challenges. I hate when mornings become afternoons, and I have accomplished nothing on my list. I have fallen into bad habits, going to bed later, and using that to rationalize my late rising. This scenario is coloring my entire day, putting me in a foul mood, and hindering my progress on my goals.

Experience has revealed my prime productivity period is between 9 A.M. and 2 P.M. I’m fresher, more creative, and more likely to pursue my personal-passion projects during my sweet spot. It presumes I am awake, alert, and ready to work. A morning routine required to get me to that stage takes two or three hours. I need a change.

I am planning on adopting the schedule of extreme early risers, with a targeted wake-up time of 4 A.M. I intend to address the things I have been neglecting, reviewing my scheduled daily tasks, and enjoying my yoga workout before it gets bumped for more urgent responsibilities. But first, I need my coffee.

Do you have a set wake-up time?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Required holiday celebrations begin this weekend. My introverted nerves jangle as I brace myself for the marathon that ends New Year’s Day. Crowds make me uncomfortable. I prefer staying home in my comfy PJs, bunny slippers, and snuggling under a blanket with a book. Large parties suck the life from me, blending with normal people is a challenge, and small talk is an awkward ping pong match. Socializing and connecting with others good for me, but I struggle to balance interactions and fake smiles with the individuals I want to see.

Behind each event, is a frantic host who has spent countless hours and superhuman effort to ensure perfection. Honoring their work and surviving, means setting rules before I enter the venue. Pre-party, I arm myself with non-controversial, conversation-starting topics I can use when discussions lag. I move between groups before I run low on questions. I am not shy about using the bathroom or an outdoor terrace as my self-imposed time out zone. These quiet alcoves are excellent for a mini recharge. The added benefit is I discover other introverts lurking there. If I am lucky, we commiserate and share a laugh that makes the extroverts, who can’t stand to miss anything, approach us.

The keys to navigating sizable groups are to keep moving and having a “time to go” signal. It’s never acceptable to leave too early, but there is an optimum moment. I grab my coat, thank my host, and make a graceful exit.

How do you survive holiday parties?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer