Posted by on Feb 27, 2012 in Writing Life | 12 comments

This is that time of year when there simply isn’t enough time in the days for me.

I want to accomplish so many things. My to-do list grows longer each day rather than shrinking. And my level of patience? Well… let’s just say I could stand to work on it a little.

The other problem with the lack of time thing is the fact that I put a lot of pressure on myself to accomplish certain things. This can make me a pretty intense person at times. I constantly set deadlines for myself and take on way too much for one person.

A too-busy, high-strung, always rushed, crazy person is NOT who I want to be. So, why do I do this to myself? Why do I let this happen?

When I think about the fact that I’m writing a book that I’m in love with and so badly want to finish, I get a little bit anxious. But this is completely self-imposed. I have put pressure on myself to finish by a certain imaginary, 100% phantom deadline. Why?

Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? Or is it just me?

Why am I in such a hurry? I was in a hurry with the other books I wrote, too. Why?

What on earth is so urgent?

Am I in a hurry to collect a big advance? (That joke never gets old, right?)

Am I in a hurry to wait on responses from a batch of query letters?

Am I in a hurry to start another book I can fall deeply in love with?

Do I really have in my mind that my life will suddenly change – morph into some other amazing, grand life once this one novel is complete? I like my life now (mostly, anyway), why am I in a hurry to change it in some way?

The fact is no one in particular is waiting on me to finish this novel by a certain date. And though I don’t think it’s possible for me to stop writing or working on the novel or other aspects of the career, I do think it’s time to relax a little. Enjoy the process of writing and blogging. Enjoy each aspect of life a little more.

Enjoy spring and the warmer weather.

Enjoy March madness. (Remember? I’m a huge Univeristy of Kentucky fan, and it’s been an exciting year.)

Work the paying gig with a glad heart.

Enjoy my children’s crazy spring soccer and school schedules.

The list of things I need to focus on is endless.

Although I’m not even dreaming of the possibility of setting my current manuscript aside, I am giving myself a break and reducing the pressure I put on myself between now and April 15. That’s only a month and a half away. Just a little breathing room, that’s all.

After the breathing room, I’ll come back and hit the manuscript hard. With fresh eyes. I’ll probably work on it a little between now and then, but I’m squashing all self-imposed pressure for now.

What about you? What are you in a hurry for today? Do you ever put more stress on yourself than is truly necessary?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
PinterestShare
  • Loree Huebner

    My hubby always tells me to stop with the arbitrary deadlines…I drive him crazy sometimes!

    Great reminders here, Heather.

    Sometimes we just need to stop and smell the roses. 

  • Jessica R. Patch

    I think breaks are just fine! I take them between each crazy, self-imposed deadline! But I work well with deadlines. I accomplish more when I have them, either set by me or someone else. I don’t like to feel rushed, though. I hate that feeling. Can’t say I haven’t been there a time or ten…million. LOL I want to hurry through my today to get to bookclub tonight! Ha!

  • Keli Gwyn

    I’m glad you’re giving yourself permission to de-stress, Heather. This is a crazy busy time of year for you, so removing some of the self-imposed pressure is a good thing and a healthy choice.

  • Lindsay Harrel

    I am totally with you, Heather! When I realized that I should be enjoying this writing process instead of barreling through it, I felt a whole lot better about the whole thing!

  • Heather Gilbert

    I’m just one of those writers who is so driven, I canNOT stop until I reach the goals I set. Maybe that’s what’s driving you? Anyway, once I got serious about writing, I feel I can’t stop pushing till one of my books are out there for people to (hopefully) enjoy. Writing brings out all my OCD tendencies, and I have to push those down to be there for husband and kiddos! But I’ve convinced myself I can balance it all!

    • http://heathersunseri.com Heather Sunseri

      And i think writers can balance it all. Mostly. I just think we will all face times when we can’t. (How’s that for contradictory?) I just know I can’t balance EVERYTHING for about two months a year – February 15-April 15.

      Like you said, we all have things in our lives, like kids and husband in your case, that we must be willing to put before our writing at times, don’t you think?

  • http://www.susandimickele.com Susan DiMickele

    I am in a hurry about everything.  And it is killing me!  I am even in a hurry to slow down (if that makes sense).  Thanks for giving me permission to take 5.  (And please keep me accountable on this crazy journey as a mother/writer/professional/and all the other hats we are wearing!)  God bless my friend.  We won’t be in a hurry in heaven. 

  • Mike Sunseri

    I swear the author was thinking of my lovely, albeit uber-driven wife. I hope she reads this.

    • http://heathersunseri.com Heather Sunseri

      HaHa. Very funny!

  • Jeannie Campbell, LMFT

    yes. i’m in a hurry to get better (sick today, i’m afraid), to help people faster and more consistently (paying gig), and to hear back from a publisher. oh, the list! however, there is such joy in slowing down and laughing at yourself, which i frequently do. i’m convinced my for-year-old was put on the earth not only to exasperate me, but to make me laugh at myself. love her.

    love you too. :)

  • Jennifer K. Hale

    I feel like I’m always in a hurry and my to-do list grows longer and longer. And I’m always afraid that I’m going to miss something, specifically with my kids in their growing-up years. And I get frustrated when I can’t fit in everything–exercise, blogging, writing, the full-time mom thing, church stuff… I’ve become famous for saying “I can’t be all things to all people” a lot lately. :) I heard a great sermon from my pastor who really put things in perspective for me. I’m going to blog about that in a week or so. If I have time. ;)

    • http://heathersunseri.com Heather Sunseri

      It’s so true… We CAN’T be all things to all people!! And I know that feeling that we’re going to miss something big. That’s why we have to continuously step back and reevaluate what’s on our plate. I know I do.