One of the hardest obstacles to overcome for writers is created by the mind. They are usually things such as overthinking, negative self-thought, self doubt and other real menaces to productivity. The good news is that it is possible to overcome these internal distractors with a bit of patience and self-compassion. However, for optimal success, you will have to become more mindful and learn that these distractors can come into your mind when you least expect it and sometimes without even being aware of them until they have created a lot of hardship for you. One way that internal distractors gain a stronghold in your mind is when you are tired, hungry, distracted, and feeling down on yourself. This is a great breeding ground for them. This is when they come into our mind and create webs and nests of toxic thoughts and emotions. By the time they are well entrenched, our writing day is pretty well ruined. So, how can we avoid these internal distractors? Well, here are a few things you can try:

• Do a centering exercise before sitting down to write. Notice what you are thinking and feeling.
• Eat a snack so that you won’t be hungry.
• Remove all technology from your office. These are not only external distractors but internal ones too.
• Have a list of 5 positive statements and say them to yourself before you start writing. It may be statements such as: I am a writer. I am a successful writer. I love writing. I can do anything I put my mind to.
• Set a timer for an hour. And decide to write and nothing else for the duration.
• When the beeper goes off, stop writing and take a break.
• If you have time, set a timer for another hour or half hour and write for that time frame too. Then stop and do something else.

If you struggle with internal distractors as you start writing, try the tips outlined in this blog post. You will be much more productive! To a productive week! Irene S. Roth