I finished the blog about "moments" - and I had Scott read it.
This is Big. Huge. Monumental.
I'm okay with strangers reading my stuff...but Scott? It feels so vulnerable and scary, because his words can lift me or sink me.
But I did it - I had him read it. And he liked it. So, I'm going to submit it. And then move on to another. I've got to just keep plugging away. Keep working and writing and moving forward.
Just wanted to report.
I'm trying to get back into the flow of writing. Any sort of writing. Of course I need to do copywriting, but I'm just trying to write. Journal. Blog Post. Poem. Anything to get me to practice focusing.
I've started three different blog posts in the last week, and I'm close to finishing one. I'm working to submit that to BYU Magazine. It feels big to submit it. I'm going to work on the two others to also submit - because I'm unsure if they'll even choose the first one.
I want to keep plugging along with writing. I'm trying hard to figure out a daily schedule that works. I seem to be struggling with sleeping at night, getting up in the morning, and getting started. I don't sit down to write until noon - so a big part of my day is already gone. It's crazy. I used to be such a morning person with work and focus. I'm struggling a bit with that now.
So, I'm just trying to sit and write for 2 hours anytime in the day. To work on the blogs this week, and then start copywriting again next week with client outreach. Trying to hit it hard for March, April, and May and really spring these next few months to make it work. I thought it would be easier - it's not. I thought it would happen faster - it didn't. And so I'm struggling a bit to figure out my place and my contribution with our earnings. I've always worked (minus the 1 year of being pregnant with Juliet, when Noel was an infant as well). I just would like to work and get paid for it. I keep working at copywriting without getting paid, and it's hard to keep going. That's why I'm writing these blogs, to hopefully get published and see that the input does have some sort of output.
For today, just going to try to finish the one blog post. The one about moments.
I've been having trouble figuring out how to work at home, so thought I'd pretend to be someone else and give myself some advice. Maybe this will help me be kinder to myself than I usually am.
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Hello, Brooke! You are doing a HUGE thing by starting a new career! That's awesome! I'm excited for you, and think that this schedule could help you out.
First Things First have to start the night BEFORE the morning. When dinner and dishes and scripture time are done, get yourself to bed. Reward yourself with reading IN BED in your jammies with brushed teeth, not on the couch watching t.v. If the kids go to bed at 9, do the same for yourself. Read and then turn out the lights. See if doing this for 10 days makes a difference in how you sleep and how you get up in the morning. Remember: nothing HAS to be done at night except sleep. Sleeping is the greatest way to take care of yourself.
First things IN the morning. Try to get in at least 15 minutes of stretching and moving to wake up your body. If you have time after this to get in a workout, great. If not, get the workout in as SOON as Chaim leaves for school.
You know Youtube is fun and addicting. This is NOT your fault. So, do yourself a favor and don't pick up any device with Youtube on it.
To start on writing work. Follow this:
1. Mindset Work: affirmations, scriptures, prayer
2. Blog if needed to get creative juices flowing :-)
3. Write some copy for a company you know (practice)
4. Reach out to 10 companies a day. That's what YOU can do (not someone else)
5. Apply for 1 Upwork job a day
And when that's done, you're done for the day, to being the "work" around the house which is somewhat hard to stay focused on, and works better.
Brooke, you are doing great! You are being courageous. You are brave. You are still at the beginning, and just need to keep going.
Don't worry about starting this before the Soccer Trip. Start it on Feb. 20th, and get in 5 days every week. If you need to "double up" because of a ski day, just double the work (reach out to 20 companies i 1 day, and apply to 2 upwork jobs). That way you can take off and enjoy your kiddos, and not feel guilt. Let that guilt go - you are doing GREAT! Seriously...great!
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And...back to me. That was a nice pep talk from my alter-Brooke. Self-talk with love and kindness. Sometimes I need to step outside of myself and just be proud of where I am, where I'm going, and how I'm going.
