Posted in dissertation coach, dissertation writing, family, joy, memories, music, tagged enjoying Christmas, letting go, turn off your computer on December 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Image by JKönig via Flickr
The time has come– close your computer, put on some music, and settle into a cozy chair.
Let go of your dissertation and other such bothersome things, and embrace your family, with all of their attendant quirks and idiosyncrasies.
May the joys of the season be yours.
Nancy
Posted in academic, anxiety, coaching, determination, discipline, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, family, getting started, music, writing, You Tube, tagged music to raise your mood, time to write, writing in the morning on July 14, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Get up early, no matter how much you think you think you need sleep, and write.
Writing a dissertation takes single-mindedness. It takes mental focus. It works best when you feel calm, when anxiety is low, stress is low, and you feel little or no ambivalence.
And how often do you feel this way?
Do you waste time feeling how unfair it is that you have to work so hard just to find a quiet moment when you won’t be disturbed? That you have to lose sleep just to write? Do you feel that others have it better and easier than you do?
Most of us have lives that seem to be careening along, as wild as a California fire or a Virginia summer storm.
Just when we think we see a week-end approaching when at last time will be ours, the time slips away.
The space where we thought we would write completely disappears, as if swept away by a summer downpour.
And at the end of that day when time once again eluded us, this is what I know. When once again we have not met our goal and when once again we feel beaten down and knocked about, we certainly do not feel that we’re participating in a metaphor. We are not part of a fast-moving stream. We are slouching in a chair and self-medicating by eating, drinking, or watching TV.
We know we should go on to bed, but there we are– wondering where the time went.
Go to bed! The only way to get writing done is to get ahead of the storm. Get to bed and then get up early, no matter how much you think you think you need sleep. Write. Write early in the morning.
Write before you hear other people in your building starting to rise. Write before your own kids are awake. Write before you hear car doors slamming or cars moving. Write before your mind starts to feel befuddled by the demands of whatever else is in your life.
Write when you are calm and when it is quiet.
And then hum to yourself this lovely old hymn that Cat Stevens made popular.
Posted in coaching, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, distractions, focus, getting started, Happier, hope, joy, memories, momentum, music, positive psychology, re-start, resources, restart writing, start writing, strategies, structures, writing, writing, dissertation, You Tube, tagged "I Can See Clearly Now, "You've Got a Friend", Carole King, connections, dissertation coaching, get started writing, getting started, good mood, positive, self-management, support, writing on November 2, 2007| 2 Comments »
Writing is easier when you’re in a good mood.
Researchers say that if you can generate a somewhat happy frame of mind, starting your writing and sticking with it will be easier.
So what can you do to bring about a happier mood? Listen to some music!
Music is powerful. Research supports claims that not only can music decrease depression and improve your mood, but it can also improve focus and memory. It has even been shown to reduce chronic pain.
The kind of music writers prefer varies wildly. Many writers like popular music that cranks them up—invigorates them and gets the juices flowing.
Or classical music, with expansive, stirring orchestration.
Maybe you’re like me and sometimes want music that takes you to a quiet place in your mind where you can push everything else aside.
How about old movie musicals?—do you feel a lift when you hear “Seventy-Six Trombones” from The Music Man or “The Hills Are Alive” from The Sound of Music?
What music invigorates you, helps you focus, induces a good mood, or perhaps brings to mind that person or those people who support you in your dissertation process?
I feel a surge of happiness when I hear my favorite oldies, such as “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash. When I hear the refrain, “Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies/ Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies,” I feel my shoulders relax as I take in a deep breath. I feel hopeful. You can hear Nash sing this song at You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPKpmN1EJ_c
Recently I happened to see Carole King on TV singing “You’ve Got a Friend.”
For the past week, I’ve spent a few minutes almost daily at You Tube, listening to “You’ve Got a Friend” and watching snippets from different performances over the years in which Carole King sang this song that she wrote it in the ‘70s.
“You’ve Got a Friend” reminds me of how much people matter and how important support is during the dissertation writing process. Hearing the song puts me in a calm, centered place, and I’m ready to write.
If you haven’t heard Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” lately, here are two different versions on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_L4epGowZU&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6r1175w_lM
“You’ve Got a Friend”
Lyrics and Music: Carole King
When you’re down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend
If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold
They’ll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don’t you let them
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend
What music are you listening to? What moves you to write?
I’d love to hear from you. I’d also like to send you my free e-newsletter. Please sign up at my website (www.nwcoaching.com).
Until later,
Nancy
www.nwcoaching.com