Thursday, July 29, 2010

Thoughtful Thursday: The Trouble with Habits

It's hard for me to believe that I haven't posted here in over two months. It's even harder to believe that it took that long for me to finish my last travel guide.

Last summer, when I started this blog, I had every intention of posting six times a week – no matter that everyone, from my hubby to my online pals, thought I was delusional. At the time, I believed that, by forcing myself to post something nearly every day, I could form a solid habit – and for a while, that logic seemed to work. After a few months, posting here had indeed become a near-daily habit – one that I thought would be difficult to break, especially since I really enjoyed writing my “simple pleasure” posts and interacting with my fellow writers. In my warped little brain, I thought that a positive habit like that would stick for a good long while.

Little did I know, however, that work would interfere with my well-intentioned plans. Back in January, I was so busy traveling and researching for my Moon Florida Keys guide that I was lucky to post once a week, much less six times. It didn't take long for my positive habit to become a regular burden – especially since I had more pressing blogs, like American Nomad, to maintain – and once I fell off the proverbial wagon, it was hard to make it a priority anymore. Hence, my recent two-month absence.

But, despite my reluctant absence, I've missed it greatly – not to mention my buddies in the blogosphere. Now that I've finished the Keys guide – and have only the copy-editing and proofing stages left – I hope to be a little more consistent with this blog. Of course, I now have a new edition of Moon Michigan to write, but I'm hoping that I'll be able, with my hubby's help, to manage my time better this time around. Still, in the wake of this harried first half of 2010, I can't help but wonder... Why is it so easy to break a good habit like blogging, but difficult to break bad ones, like smoking cigarettes or, in my case, eating chocolate?


9 comments:

Becky said...

Yea! Glad you're back! Maybe try to set an easier, more flexible goal? And hey, you're still writing... a ton... How's MI treating you?

Laura Martone said...

Hi, Becky! I'm glad to be back, too. Now, the next step is to start visiting all my pals' blogs again.

In the meantime, I'm staying pretty busy with my travel guides... and Michigan is wonderful! So much nicer this summer than it was last year. :-)

Speaking of summer, how has yours been? Having loads of fun with the boys?

Tabitha Bird said...

Congrats on the book though. the blog will always be here. You write when you can :)

A misinterpreted wave said...

Whoo hoo you're back :)And to answer the chocolate question - it's because it tastes so gooooooooooooood.

Work is evil and always interupts the good stuff, but it is a means to an end. At least you are back, and that's all that matters.

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Tabitha. While I'd love to be a published novelist someday, being a published travel writer is pretty cool, too. And you're right... the blog will still be here, once the deadlines are done. It's the interaction that I miss the most, though. :-(

Hi, Wave! Glad to have been missed... and, yes, chocolate (especially of the darker persuasion) is SO freakin' yummy. Grr. Work definitely interrupts the "good stuff" - but it's a necessary evil, I'm afraid. I just wish I could learn to balance work and life better... but I suppose most of us struggle with that on a daily basis.

Marguerite said...

So nice to hear from you, Laura! Congrats on your Keys book, I'm sure it's fab! We are in the "dog days" of summer, here, just taking it easy and trying to stay cool. Just remember, "all work and no play, makes ....." lol Don't work too hard, cher!

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Marguerite! I'm excited about seeing my guide on the bookshelves, but it sure has been a harried road... and you're so right. All work and no play does make Laura a dull girl - not to mention delinquent in her blogging duties.

Luckily, I'm enjoying the mild Michigan summer... and thankful that I'm not down in New Orleans at this time of year. I'm such a humidity wuss. Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer down south!

R.R.Jones said...

Congrats on the book and commiserations with your broken dreams of consistent blogging.
However, I'm just the same and haven#t managed to scribble down anything of interest for weeks now, lol.
Ah well, the best laid plans of mice and men...

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, R.R. I realize that I'm not the only one who has to put the blogging aside from time to time, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept. Guess it's true about the road to Hell being paved with good intentions...