Hello all, happy Hump day!

Sorry this post is a little late to arrival, after all the stresses of the holidays, I took a few days off to recuperate. While they were more enjoyable than I expected, I cannot deny it took a lot out of me!

Anyway, I am back to business now! And what better way to start the year than by reflecting on the year that came before?

Problem is…this past year has been hard to measure. I can’t call it bad, as it is the year I finished the first step in writing my first novel. I struggle to call it good, however, due to all the struggles I’ve had in finishing the next step, a step I thought would be far easier to finish. In that sense, I feel the same sensation one might expecting when missing a step on the stairs, confused with a sinking sensation in my stomach as I dread what happens next.

Well, maybe not quite so dark, but the confusion is quite present. 

During the holidays, a loved one made a passing remark as we spoke about my current circumstances made me reassess. They noted that I work all the time, because I’m often either working at my part time job or spending hours hitting my head against a wall for the book edit. I don’t recall their exact words, but they compared it to working a 60 to 80 hour work week.

It’s not the first time I considered writing my job, but it was the first time I really considered what kind of impact it had on me. While I have never worked a job that required so much of my time as an 80 hour work week, I was an ambitious college student. Many a time, I took on more than I could manage. Each time, it ended the same, I was up all night studying, reading, or working on projects, then getting up as zombie each day to head to my next class. By the time I graduated, I was burnt out and the very idea of studying again nauseated me.

It was a miserable experience, and one I do not care to repeat.

This is not to say that the circumstances are the same, but it made me realize I needed to avoid such an outcome. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I burnt myself on something I love so much as writing.

So, in an effort to avoid that, I’m limiting how many hours a day I will work to 3 a day. On top of my part time job of 30 hours, this puts me around 51. I may work more on some days than others, though. After all, inspiration might strike and I’ll find hours flying by as I take pen to page. Some days, I might not make 3 at all. In the end, though, I think it will balance out. Regardless, this kind of goal should keep my more energized while also ensuring I’m making just some progress each and every day.

All that said, I’m looking forward to this coming year. I have no doubt this is the year I’ll publish my book, and I have no doubt this year be better than the last in all the ways that matter.

Thanks again to all my readers still with me, I appreciate each and every one of you. God bless you, and I hope you all have a great rest of your week.