1. Both activities require discipline and commitment.
In the pursuit of personal growth and achievement, two activities often at the forefront are running and writing. Both require dedication, perseverance, and a keen awareness of one's strengths and weaknesses. Sara Kopeczky, an English and Italian teacher living in Croatia, editor of The Split Mind, and an aspiring author, shares her insights on the parallels between these two seemingly disparate activities.
One of the key strategies for overcoming the initial difficulty in starting a new writing project, much like the challenge of beginning a running routine, is to manage the overwhelm and build momentum through small, achievable steps.
Starting small and setting manageable goals is crucial. For example, committing to just 30 minutes of focused writing or a modest word count like 250-500 words per session lowers the barrier and makes starting less daunting.
Breaking the project into smaller chunks also helps. Instead of seeing a novel as 80,000 words or an essay as 2,000 words, dividing it into scenes, sections, or short pieces (around 250 words or so) focuses the mind on completing one small piece at a time, maintaining a clear, reachable finish line.
Creating a flexible plan or outline provides direction without stifling creativity. Even if you prefer freewriting, having a loose structure or roadmap—such as a list of key scenes or chapter ideas—helps prevent the paralysis of a blank page.
Embracing the "mess" of first drafts is also essential. Allowing oneself to write imperfectly, without editing as you go, is key to getting words down and maintaining momentum. Writing sprints that ban internal editing help keep the momentum going.
Building a consistent writing habit is another vital aspect. Scheduling a regular time to write daily and holding oneself accountable to meeting word counts or time goals fosters steady progress and reduces procrastination.
When feeling discouraged, re-examining the outline or character roles can help reignite enthusiasm. Sometimes, a small change can make all the difference.
The "two-minute rule" is another effective strategy. Promising oneself to work for just two minutes initially often helps overcome the mental block of starting, making it easier to keep going.
Celebrating small wins is also crucial for maintaining momentum over long projects. Crossing off completed sub-tasks or sections builds motivation and a sense of accomplishment, critical for staying on track.
These approaches mirror the way starting a running routine becomes more manageable by beginning with short runs or walks, setting incremental goals, and building habits gradually. The emphasis is on breaking the intimidating project into digestible parts, reducing perfectionism early on, and maintaining regular effort to get past the hardest initial barrier.
In both running and writing, it's important to strive to be the best version of oneself. Every run and every story matters in the process of improvement. Sara Kopeczky, who has won several literary competitions in Croatia and Germany, exemplifies this mindset.
Persistence and trying to improve with each step is key in both running and writing. Success in these activities can be variable, with good and bad days. However, by adopting these strategies and maintaining a positive, growth-oriented mindset, one can overcome initial challenges and achieve their goals.
Science often explores the impact of health-and-wellness practices on lifestyle, and fitness-and-exercise is a significant aspect in this domain. For instance, the parallels between consistent running routines and regular writing habits are evident. Both activities require persistent effort, discipline, and a willingness to grow.
In the realm of health-and-wellness, adopting strategies like breaking down a fitness regimen into manageable objectives, setting realistic goals, and scheduling regular workouts not only improve physical health but also foster a positive mindset – much like the techniques employed by writers in improving their writing skills.
