Episode 12: Katharine Grubb and Healthy Habits for Writers
Writer Mom Life Episode 12: Katharine Grubb and Healthy Habits for Writers
Katharine Grubb is the founder of the Facebook group “10-minute Novelist”, which provides support and encouragement to beginning and emerging writers. For writer moms, 10 minutes is about all you have sometimes! Katharine has some amazing tips and wisdom from her years as a hybrid author and homeschooling mother of 5 kids. Now she’s pulling back to focus more on her health, the joy of writing, and spending time with her family.
There’s a lot of great information packed into this interview, such as:
- How she started and grew her group to over 10,000 members
- How the group has evolved and how her 20+ volunteer staff helps her
- The importance of organizing your life so that you can make the most of those 10 minutes to write (and maybe find more than 10 minutes!)
- Her experience getting a book deal through her blog
- Her shifting definitions of success that led her to pull back more this year to focus on what really matters
- The typical day in the life of her family of 7
- Why exercise is getting priority over writing time
- The danger of comparing your life to others
(Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.)
Katharine’s links:
10 minute novelists Facebook group
J. R.’s tips and links:
It’s already difficult trying to stay healthy in general, much less trying to balance that with being a mom AND being a writer. But here are a few things I’ve personally found to help you stay on-track!
(NOTE: I am not a medical professional. Please consult your physician before starting any new diet, supplement, or exercise routine!)
Focus on one thing at a time.
- You’re already spending a lot of your available time, effort, focus, and willpower on two large things: being a mom and being a writer. Keep that in mind when making your health goals.
- Pick one small thing to work on health-wise, and stick with that until it becomes a regular habit. (ex] walking for 20 minutes a day.) Then, and only then, add in another small thing. (ex] eat one serving of fruits or vegetables with each meal.) Work your way up until you’ve transformed your whole health outlook!
- Don’t try to do too much at once on top of all the other things you’re already doing!
Make your goals SPECIFIC and have a DEADLINE!
- Ever heard the saying “Your work expands to fill the time?” It’s true, I’ve witnessed it myself. If you don’t have a deadline, there’s no urgency. There’s no desire to take action NOW.
- Set a deadline that will be challenging, but not impossible.
- Make health goals that are as specific as possible, and that are measurable. (ex] Instead of “I will walk three times a week”, make it “I will walk for 20 minutes a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6pm.”)
- If sticking to and accomplishing your goals (ANY goal) has been a challenge for you, I highly recommend Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever online course, currently gearing up for 2018. It has helped me TREMENDOUSLY with setting realistic, challenging goals and actually meeting them. (And no, he’s not paying me anything to say that, I just LOVED the course soooo much, and I think you will too!)
Remember to forgive yourself!
- If you fall off the wagon one day, forgive yourself and move on. Each day is a fresh start. Don’t beat yourself up over every slip up.
- And as even Michael Hyatt says, if you only reach 80% of your goal, whatever that goal may be, you’re still 80% further along than you were before!
Stay flexible!
- Not just in your limbs and joints (ha, a health pun!), but in your health goals.
- Keep your eye on the prize, but be ready to adjust your strategy if needed.
- Use that flexibility and adaptability you’ve honed as a writer mom toward this area of your life, too!
Some other awesome resources!
- Now you can write AND exercise at the same time!!! WHAT!?!? Seriously!
- The Healthy Writer , a book on the subject by Joanna Penn
- The Self-Publishing podcast has quite a few episodes about the challenge of being a healthy writer, as well!
Lastly, I will leave you with some excellent articles from Michael Hyatt on goal-setting and sticking with it until the whistle blows! These principles can be applied to any goal you have: motherhood goals, writing goals, business goals, health goals, etc. Enjoy!
- Don’t Quit Before the Whistle Blows (tells a GREAT story of a runner who fell flat on her face and yet still WON the race! Don’t miss it!)
- Goal Set Match (top goal setting strategies of top athletes)
- Why Discomfort is Good For You (why setting uncomfortable goals is important!)
- The Surprising Importance of Celebration (celebrating even those little wins is imperative! Hey, this is your excuse to party!)
Now go out there and kick some a$$!!!! 😉
