Are you thinking about changing some of your own habits? Do you want more out of life? Want to play your violin better? Here are five tips, the FIVE A'S, to build healthier habits :
1. ACCOUNT: Make a written account of any habits you'd like to work on: get more articles published, enter more writing contests, quit checking your e-mail. There's no need to be grammatically correct, just write something down so you can see the habit you want to improve in front of you.
2. ACQUIRE: Gather information about the habit from several sources: writer chat rooms on the Internet, library reference books about writing styles, print newsletters obtained from calling writer groups listed in the Yellow Pages or local newspaper, etc. Bookstores often host events and invite published authors. Sign up for these functions, attend, take notes, ask questions. Everyone has to start somewhere!
3. ACTION: Develop a course of action for working on this habit. Be as specific as possible. For instance, if you want to write a novel this year, follow Robert J. Ray’s Weekend Novelist and complete it in 52 weeks. Work weekends? Re-adjust the schedule to write at night or in the day. If you get sidetracked, or let a couple of weeks go by due to busy scheduling, late meetings, or too many commitments, catch up! Just as you would with your job, work overtime, ask someone to take notes at the next meeting for you, just say “no, maybe next time,” but get caught up and keep writing, sending out articles, contest entries, etc.!
4. ASSESS: Log your progress to follow up's and down's. A scientific assessment isn't necessary. Even one line jotted down each day or so on your calendar can let you track good days and bad, days you cheated and days you excelled etc. Try placing a sticker on each day or some art work to follow your progress? It's for your own self-improvement, so have fun and express yourself! Did you send out one article each day last month? If you missed a day, did you send out two the next? Why / why not?
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