Sitting alone in a room can make it difficult to approach every task in your writing business with energy. There is nobody sitting next to you, cheering you on, and no one to pick you up when you fall. Writing, by its very nature, is a solitary activity.
Because of that, it is difficult to maintain a high-energy level on all tasks and at all times. Some things, like videoconferencing or discussing story ideas with a colleague, can help bolster your energy. But for most writers, this is not a standard part of the day. Most of us are sitting at a keyboard or staring at a screen by ourselves for hours on end, and it becomes difficult to keep up the energy.
Your lifestyle can play a big part in the energy you have daily. For years now, I have been adamant about getting at least eight or nine hours of sleep per night because that is what my body needs for my mind to be sharp the next day. I have eliminated sugar and processed foods from my diet, opting mainly for fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and fish. I eat two meals a day and try to keep at least a 13 or 14-hour intermittent fast. Every morning, I meditate for at least half an hour before going to the gym where I do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. Also, three times a week, I do high-intensity training.
Making these lifestyle changes have greatly contributed to the level of energy I have, even as I settle into middle age. Staying sober and being mindful of your lifestyle will elevate your energy.
A mastermind group can also bolster your inner energy and motivation. It is exciting to join a dozen other people on a live videoconferencing call. This would not have been possible ten years ago, and the idea lived strictly in the realm of science fiction twenty years ago. I remember as a child watching television shows with videophones and thinking how amazing it would be to be able to see and talk to somebody in real-time, from anywhere in the world.
Well, that future is now. With tools like Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom, it is easy to look at and talk to someone living on the other side of the planet. In the mastermind groups I run, participants come from all over the United States and sometimes from other countries. There is true excitement and energy generated when people come together across miles, distance, and time. It is a treat to be able to host a virtual party with people all over the world without the need for sophisticated hardware or complicated software.
I feel this every time I join a mastermind session. Many of the attendees will show up 10 or 15 minutes before the scheduled start time simply to say hello and chat with their fellow attendees. By the time I start the official session, many in the group are already warmed up and buzzing with the anticipation of what we’re going to cover in the next hour.
Although not perfect, I believe the videoconferencing mastermind session is the best way to generate excitement among everyone involved. If it were possible, I would prefer to have everyone in the same room at the same time, but that is difficult to manage unless you live in a city with a high concentration of writers such as San Francisco or New York City.
For the rest of the world, there just aren’t that many people like us doing things like this locally.
Sometimes, attendees must use their phone to join the mastermind session, which I permit if the circumstance dictates it. But it is far more effective and engaging if everyone shows up with their webcam on and ready to interact with others. We can see facial expressions, hand gestures, and other forms of nonverbal communication that are not possible on a standard phone call and completely lost in any type of text-based online environment such as a Facebook group.
And when we begin to have conversations on the hot seat, the energy within the group rises. There’s a collective sense of friendship that takes over. Everyone in the mastermind session wants to be able to help the person who is struggling or facing some type of challenge. And while it is difficult to explain that energy, it is something I feel in every single mastermind session.
Even for the most introverted of authors, having an interaction with other people who have the same passions and concerns as you can be like a shot of adrenaline. In mastermind groups that I have joined, I have often started the session with low-energy or in a foul mood, but by the time it is over, I feel refreshed and energized, ready to tackle whatever writing tasks await me.
The same is true when I run the mastermind sessions. I always end the call with a buzz, and I’m excited to see what the next session will bring.
Online groups can mimic a mastermind experience but only to a point. Having someone comment on a post might help you solve a problem, but it typically won’t raise your energy level and motivate you to keep going. It is that type of personal communication that is essential in reaping the rewards of a mastermind experience—an experience that is simultaneously exclusive, and yet, inclusive.
Want to take your writing chops and business savvy to the next level? Check out The Author Success Mastermind group at https://theauthorsuccessmastermind.com/join/
Posted in Mindfulness, Productivity, Recent, Self Improvement