By Mary Jaksch
Want to Write Better? I mean, a lot better – in just ten minutes. I’m not talking about some kind of writing Voodoo; I want to show you a no-fail way that can improve your writing dramatically in minutes.
Let’s start at the beginning. And that means starting with the brain, because that’s the main machine we use for writing. Whether it’s having great ideas, or choosing a structure, or dancing with words – it’s all to do with brainpower. So a simple way to write better is to boost the performance of your brain.
How to boost brainpower in only 10 minutes?
Here’s what made me consider this question: I was recently in Las Vegas at Blogworld where I spent 5 days in canned air with piped muzak. I tried to write – but my imagination was sluggish and my focus scattered.
When I got back home to New Zealand, I inhaled the pure air deep into my lungs. And I got really excited about raising my fitness. After all, as a writer I tend to sit at my desk a lot. Maybe you do too?
I started an 8-week Fitness Challenge and wrote a post, called Want to be Fit, or even Ultra-Fit? Join the 8-Week Challenge People are joining in droves. (Leo Babauta joined too and is super helpful in the Challenge forum).
As soon as I started cranking up my fitness, my creativity flooded back. It’s not only the oxygen that sharpens our skills, what makes a difference is that exercise is a circuit breaker that lifts us out of the writing rut.
Here is how to lift your writing to new heights in 10 minutes
- Exercise briskly for 10 minutes
If possible, exercise outside so that you have a change of environment. Once you’re outside, walk briskly or run. If you can’t go outside, use whatever is at hand for exercise. For example, a staircase is a great exercise tool. Run or walk up one flight of stairs. Then take some deep breaths and repeat. - Raise your pulse rate
It’s important to raise your heart rate substantially. When you do that, the mind lets go of worries and preoccupations and focuses on the exercise itself. This means that you can return to writing with a clear mind. - Get out of breath
Being out of breath is good! Use it as your benchmark for brisk exercise. When you are ‘out of breath’ you are gulping huge amounts of oxygen which will refresh your brain. - Be mindful
When you exercise, leave mp3 player and phone behind. Focus on your present experience. Notice the color of the sky, the ground under your feet, and the sounds around you. When we are mindful (which is really a form of meditation), the mind becomes expansive and open. - Drink water
At the end of the 10 minutes exercise, drink a couple of glasses of water. Hydration also helps your brain to function well.
Taking ten minute breaks like this is a great habit. Not only does exercise boost brainpower, it also acts like a circuit breaker. This is especially helpful if you get stuck with the piece you’re writing, or if progress is sluggish.
Once you get back to your desk, remember to sit upright. Good posture helps your mind to focus. That’s why most forms of meditation include instructions for upright posture. When the spine is aligned, random thoughts die down and you are less likely to get caught in endless cycles of ‘what if’ or ‘if only’ thought patterns, and can open up to your full creativity.
Mary Jaksch is Chief Editor of Write to Done. Read more on her blog Goodlife ZEN. Together with Leo Babauta, Mary runs the A-List Blogger Club, an ongoing training for bloggers that members rave about:
Lol Mary, that synthetic environment at BlogWorld drained me too. We’re very lucky we know how envigorating fresh air, gorgeous scenery and peace and quiet can be because some people don’t get to experience it much:)
Great to see you back on form now. The writing program sounds great.
I also had first hand experience last week of the sluggishness factor: I’m used to walking a brisk mile each day in the open air but last week I hurt my foot and couldn’t walk for three days. It was the lack of it that showed me how valuable this habit is. Brain, creativity, digestion, everything slowed down. You’re absolutely right about the benefits of that ‘circuit breaker’.
It’s funny you wrote this. When I exercise I am completely out of it. I get dumber. My mind is slow and I cannot usually speak to people and make much sense for about an hour after I’m done exercising – until my head clears. I’m completely uninspired, unintelligent, and unimaginative after exercise.
I thought this was universal. Maybe it’s just me?
I feel the same – but only if I exercise strongly for an hour or so. The trick is to do just 10 minutes – and then write.
I’m glad you wrote this Mike, because I too suffer brain gatigue after walking. But my story is a little more like, “because I have a condition” ! I have M. S. and fatigue is one of the most common complaints from peopke with this disease. Lately, I’ve been walking in the late afternoon/early evening, and I’ve found that the next morning is when my neurons act more like they should — and when I am more creative and write more & better.
So, Mary, the timing of the fresh air to more productive work ratio is different with each of us, but I do agree that it is helprul, if not, necessary!
When my brain fogs up and I’m having difficulty writing, I head outside to do tai chi for 10-30 minutes, or I take a walk and look at the hills and mountains.
Physical activity is very important to maintain a healthy brain and body, and we need both for a successful writing career — and a successful life.
Yes, I agree, John. In order to make a writing career sustainable, we need to create a healthy life that sustains mind and body.
Walking always clears my head. Especially at night, which is when I am most awake, oddly enough.
What I like best about this is how little time is involved. We don’t have to go to the gym, work out for an hour, shower and return to the house, using up half of the day doing that. This ten minutes can happen just going up and down the street on foot.
Yes, 10 minutes is easy to integrate into the writing process.
Great post, Mary.
I’m constantly advocating for writers to get up and move around more. Here on the island where I live near Seattle, I try to walk a mostly uphill course for an hour in the morning before I start. Huge difference in my productivity for the day!
It looks like you have developed a strong exercise habit. I’m impressed…
My problem is that exercise gives me so much energy, I get lots done but writing feels to serene so I tend to put it off to get all the other stuff done. Maybe I’m working out too hard. It’s your fault though – loving the 8-Week Challenge.
My fault? 8-(
You need to find those other gears Katie. You know, the first and second gear. Just exercise for 10 minutes, then write. Afterward you can have a blast like the 7km run you did yesterday :-)
I never do exercise these days, maybe it is good to follow your tips, I think 20 minutes for me would do also.
The 10 minutes exercise break is particularly useful for us writers because it clears the mind and limbers up the body. In order to get really fit, 20 minutes is better – but you may feel too tired to write directly afterward.
When I worked as a software engineer in the Bay Area, I loved jogging at lunchtime on the bay (or open space trails, or that kind of thing.) It was so good at relieving stress, clearing out my head and the kinks in my body, AND getting those good ole endorphins going, always a good thing ;-).
Since then, I’ve become a bit of a lump.
So, you’ve got me thinking again that a good aerobic session at some point mid-day would not only be useful but enjoyable! Thank you!
Be Mindful – Thats a great tip, think we often get our head down and plough through life not appreciating whats around us. Just today was stuck in a traffic jam, which sucks, but I unwound the windows and a cigarette (I know, I know!) and just looked around. The sky was beautiful and the birds where flying, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was. But I think exercise is the key for all of us chained to our computers.
Oh alright then…just one more email to read…AW C’mon, one more comment to write…OH! OW! OUCH OKAAAY!!! ALRIGHT…’m going…I’m going! :) Thanks Mary
I’m laughing! Thank you so much. Feeling a bit sluggish writing for my website, I decided to check my email. Lo and behold I read this article. Now I’m off to the treadmill on my covered porch for a dose of fresh air while I wake up my mind and body. Have a fabulous day!
That’s great advice! I used to get lots of good ideas while exercising by myself in a gym. I will take that up again. :)
Ideas are the root of creation. So it’s really better to have ideas first before we write. We get our ideas from the brain, not from the eyes. So getting involve with healthy activities such as exercise can really help us improve our brain power. Great post and thanks for sharing.
I couldn’t agree more. Long, brisk hikes are what does it for me.
I get some of my best ideas when I’m doing yoga. I know I’m supposed to be clearing my mind during the meditation, but I am inspired. It’s different the fretting, it’s creative light bulbs going off in my head!
Brisk walks, love them, especially if I’m steamed up about something. But when I walk with a 3 year old, we have to stop and pick up little treasures, so not so brisk. My son loves to run on our walks too – guess I should take his cue!
Thinking about the blogger club….
Mary, I love your tips! I do find that a brisk walk freshens my mind and opens up news thoughts. The ten minute time period is a great – just enough to freshen the mind and not get exhausted.
Very interesting about the spine being aligned & quieting the random thoughts & thought patterns. I didn’t know that :)
A little fresh air always helps to clear the head.
But it’s interesting to hear that exercise helps so many people’s creativity.
When it come to creativity, my best ideas come from being a little too tired and maybe even a tad run down.
Executing the ideas, i.e., writing without too many errors, is a another story. I find editing demands a clear head.
Having time with nature. Drinking more than 8 glasses of water, daily. Walking. Does well to me. Yes,to summarize living the acronym NEWSTART = Nutrition (what I eat, when to eat, how to cook it) + Exercise (every day) + Water (more than 8 glasses daily) + Sunshine (morning or evening) + Temperance (self-control in everything) + Air (breathing flesh air) + Rest (have enough time to sleep) + Trust in the LORD.
I stand on my head. I don’t know exactly what it does to me … gives fresh blood to the brain?
Who knows (a lot of people probably), but it works for me!
Great post.
ahem … as in headstand, NOT as in feet on head …
Hey, I do that often in Yogo Class.
Your right, Its call Head Stand Posture or post.
Luckly me, I live on one of the most beautiful islands in the world — La Palma — with a wonderful climate. And if I don’t make a special effort, my world shrinks to my computer and the supermarket. How daft is that?
I do a little yoga most mornings, but I really need to get out more.