Yesterday I was "writing" my mystery novel, but really spent most of the day taking a few notes, letting things marinate in the back of my mind, and binge watching ER (my latest obsession). As so often happens, right when I got in bed, bone tired from doing basically nothing, a new approach to a problem scene, and a first sentence came to mind. I used to think I would remember such things in the morning, but now I know to write it down immediately in my Notes app. Which is a long way of saying I'm writing today!
But I was writing yesterday too, even though I "wasted" the day watching ER. The creative process works in mysterious ways. (I have, however, deleted Hulu from my phone because at some point I really do have to put words on the page!)
In addition to writing, I am hosting The Writers Room in DDS from noon to 2:00 pm EST. This is mostly a co-working space for writers, but also offers the opportunity to talk through issues you're having with your writing or your writing process.
That's pretty much all I'm aspiring to today.
Oh, and I need to go for a walk. Haven't been out of the house in a couple of days.
I went down a little rabbit hole about a character’s name, and decided it was wrong. Thank goodness for search and replace! Now I think I need to eat my second breakfast and then I really am gonna write!
I’m done writing, and honestly feeling a little fried. What I’m working on is feeling harder than I expected, and I am having a tiny bit of a crisis of confidence about my project, so I’m counting it a win that I kept going and got words in the page. But now you can stick me with a fork, because I’m done.
I went to mix up bread dough but remembered that my stand mixer bowl was in the fridge full of chocolate frosting and now I need it to warm up before I can scrape it very easily into another container. Truth in advertising—I could do it now, but it will be easier when it’s warmer so it’s sitting in a radiator, and I have just redownloaded Hulu to my phone and am taking an ER break. It’s raining so that may be all the excuse I need not to walk….
Hey folks, I’m calling it a day! Feel free to continue checking in/out and offering support to one another. Thanks for stopping by—we’ll definitely do this again, maybe next weekend.
Hi Marta! Thanks for this offering! I had a migraine yesterday afternoon, and into the evening, so my goal for the day is to be gentle and patient with myself about needing to rest. I have about a million “should” thoughts popping into my brain even saying that, but I suppose choosing to rest despite all the “shoulds” will be a practice in care. Distraction may also be necessary to avoid wallowing in my brain so I shall set another goal of finishing the last few chapters of cozy novel I’m currently reading.💖
I love when I can just give myself over to rest, rather than stressing about the “shoulds”—because either way, I don’t get any “shoulds” done and instead I just spoil my rest with worry. If you need any permission at all, I am waving my magic fairy wand over you and your day and granting you blissful repose! What are you reading?
Thank you! I appreciate the magic fairy wand waving and I’m sure you’ll be happy to know my day has been extra restful! 🥰
I’m reading a romance novel about a person who shapeshifts into the Loch Ness monster! It takes place in Scotland, which is enjoyable, but I’m unfortunately finding it a bit stale despite the interesting premise!
Woo! I am excited about this. I’m leaving to go out of town for a few days for a family trip, and I’ve been exhausted this week so each night I tell myself I’ll do what’s needed to prep…and here we are a few hours before my sibling arrives to pick me up and the things are not done! I’m hoping to pack, shower, medicate/feed/caffeinate myself, clean my coffee maker and backlog of dishes in the kitchen, quickly clean the floor in the bathroom and hallway under the dog bowls. Going to get started shortly…will report back!
Hi Kieran! So lovely to see you here. It's a tale as old as neurodivergence, isn't it? Too exhausted to do the things we need until urgency gives us a boost. Glad body doubling is helping!
It’s great to see you too Marta 🥰 and ha. Too true! The external urgency is a magical kind of motivator. Checking back in here…I’ve cleaned the coffeemaker and all the dishes, taken meds, and am sitting down with coffee and breakfast…let’s see what else I can get done for a final push!
Thank you! I realize I never came back for a final update. I started having a pretty bad disability flare yesterday so I had to adjust my expectations a little but I was able to get packed and out the door while taking out some bonus trash with the help of my partner. Really liked this text based body doubling, thanks for setting it up Marta!
Good morning. :) I need to prep a bunch of food, no special occasion, just so there will be stuff I can eat. And I need to put a bunch of things away because the volume of all the un-put-away stuff is causing me to feel irritated and anxious cuz I need space to live my life. 🙃 Trying not to get stuck on the corner of the couch where I have space to sit.
Natalie! What a delightful and unexpected surprise to see you here! I have simply arranged my day so that being stuck on the corner of the couch is actually what I'm "supposed" to be doing, lol. But I totally get that tipping point, where avoiding the mess becomes too anxiety-producing to avoid anymore. Best of luck! Keep us posted.
I can feel it, today is the day! I'm gonna get my printer set up finally! (been looking forward to a working printer for months) (also will be cleaning the bathroom) (get the boring chore out of the way first)
I want to make a lasagna today to eat tomorrow, because it is MUCH better the next day.
I have been combatting boredom by discovering new cuisines and cooking interesting things. While my son and I were in Chicago this weekend, we tried Columbian food and fell instantly in love. So last night we made Columbian beans and arepas and OMG was it good. I have also been making Japanese food.
Anyway, the lasagna uses a bechamel sauce instead of ricotta. Last time I made it the only cheese I used was parm, and I missed that meltiness. So I am adding fresh mozz this go-around. I also thought my bolognese was a bit flat with just ground beef, so this time I am adding sweet Italian sausage. And because I have time, Ima cook that sombitch for a couple of hours.
I also promised one kid driving lessons and the other making dalgona (Korean candy) together.
Today I’d like to bake a loaf of bread, do some laundry, and finally get my dahlia tubers in their pine shavings for winter storage. That last task I’ve been delaying for six weeks & I’m tired of seeing them in the basement every time I go down there!
I just realized today really needs to be a bread-baking day for me too if I want toast tomorrow morning. Which I very much do! Good luck with the dahlia’s ! Send photos when they bloom!
Toast for tomorrow morning is why I’m making bread too! And the body doubling worked, woohoo-the tubers are now in their shavings! I still need to tidy up, but I’m taking an oatmeal break first. :)
I’m about to take a left-over fried rice break and get my bread dough mixed up. I make a part whole wheat enriched (with buttermilk, eggs, and honey) bread as my weekly go-to.
That’s awesome you’re working on your novel! Congrats!
I finished cleaning up after the dahlia tubers and my bread is baked, just need to swap laundry loads and I’m good for the day. Thank you for the body doubling-I ended up getting other stuff done too thanks to the momentum!
How/why I found the Spiral Lab and this post when I am supposed to be typing address labels for my mom's 90th birthday party is beyond me BUT I def need accountability for this "do now" task. I guess that's WHY I found it. Wish me luck!
I have had a tough week looking for rentals and getting pushed back. Tomorrow is Monday in Australia so I am taking this Sunday to have a rest day. That said, I do have storage crates in my car I need to get out so I can start packing up the kitchen. I also need to think about what we’re doing for dinner tonight, probably Dahl.
I didn’t check back in but I managed to get them into a better set of more organized storage containers. What’s funny is we don’t have kids… these are mostly my LEGOs that had been encroaching on their working space so now I’m getting them out of there.
Thank you for this! Today I will walk my kid to work, then go to a cafe and order the poems in my client's manuscript. I've been awash in/drained by administrivia all week, and haven't been able to access the required focus - plus procrastinating because I adore her and her work and want to do it justice. Today I'll sit at my favorite table in the cafe and dive into work I love.
Oh! And there will be a reward/motivator: crispy bacon, home fries, cappuccino, and time to immerse myself in Le Guin's *Always Coming Home,* which I'm loving.
Yesterday I was "writing" my mystery novel, but really spent most of the day taking a few notes, letting things marinate in the back of my mind, and binge watching ER (my latest obsession). As so often happens, right when I got in bed, bone tired from doing basically nothing, a new approach to a problem scene, and a first sentence came to mind. I used to think I would remember such things in the morning, but now I know to write it down immediately in my Notes app. Which is a long way of saying I'm writing today!
But I was writing yesterday too, even though I "wasted" the day watching ER. The creative process works in mysterious ways. (I have, however, deleted Hulu from my phone because at some point I really do have to put words on the page!)
In addition to writing, I am hosting The Writers Room in DDS from noon to 2:00 pm EST. This is mostly a co-working space for writers, but also offers the opportunity to talk through issues you're having with your writing or your writing process.
That's pretty much all I'm aspiring to today.
Oh, and I need to go for a walk. Haven't been out of the house in a couple of days.
I went down a little rabbit hole about a character’s name, and decided it was wrong. Thank goodness for search and replace! Now I think I need to eat my second breakfast and then I really am gonna write!
I’m done writing, and honestly feeling a little fried. What I’m working on is feeling harder than I expected, and I am having a tiny bit of a crisis of confidence about my project, so I’m counting it a win that I kept going and got words in the page. But now you can stick me with a fork, because I’m done.
I went to mix up bread dough but remembered that my stand mixer bowl was in the fridge full of chocolate frosting and now I need it to warm up before I can scrape it very easily into another container. Truth in advertising—I could do it now, but it will be easier when it’s warmer so it’s sitting in a radiator, and I have just redownloaded Hulu to my phone and am taking an ER break. It’s raining so that may be all the excuse I need not to walk….
Hey folks, I’m calling it a day! Feel free to continue checking in/out and offering support to one another. Thanks for stopping by—we’ll definitely do this again, maybe next weekend.
Hi Marta! Thanks for this offering! I had a migraine yesterday afternoon, and into the evening, so my goal for the day is to be gentle and patient with myself about needing to rest. I have about a million “should” thoughts popping into my brain even saying that, but I suppose choosing to rest despite all the “shoulds” will be a practice in care. Distraction may also be necessary to avoid wallowing in my brain so I shall set another goal of finishing the last few chapters of cozy novel I’m currently reading.💖
I love when I can just give myself over to rest, rather than stressing about the “shoulds”—because either way, I don’t get any “shoulds” done and instead I just spoil my rest with worry. If you need any permission at all, I am waving my magic fairy wand over you and your day and granting you blissful repose! What are you reading?
Thank you! I appreciate the magic fairy wand waving and I’m sure you’ll be happy to know my day has been extra restful! 🥰
I’m reading a romance novel about a person who shapeshifts into the Loch Ness monster! It takes place in Scotland, which is enjoyable, but I’m unfortunately finding it a bit stale despite the interesting premise!
Woo! I am excited about this. I’m leaving to go out of town for a few days for a family trip, and I’ve been exhausted this week so each night I tell myself I’ll do what’s needed to prep…and here we are a few hours before my sibling arrives to pick me up and the things are not done! I’m hoping to pack, shower, medicate/feed/caffeinate myself, clean my coffee maker and backlog of dishes in the kitchen, quickly clean the floor in the bathroom and hallway under the dog bowls. Going to get started shortly…will report back!
Hi Kieran! So lovely to see you here. It's a tale as old as neurodivergence, isn't it? Too exhausted to do the things we need until urgency gives us a boost. Glad body doubling is helping!
It’s great to see you too Marta 🥰 and ha. Too true! The external urgency is a magical kind of motivator. Checking back in here…I’ve cleaned the coffeemaker and all the dishes, taken meds, and am sitting down with coffee and breakfast…let’s see what else I can get done for a final push!
That’s already a lot! Congrats!
Thank you! I realize I never came back for a final update. I started having a pretty bad disability flare yesterday so I had to adjust my expectations a little but I was able to get packed and out the door while taking out some bonus trash with the help of my partner. Really liked this text based body doubling, thanks for setting it up Marta!
Good morning. :) I need to prep a bunch of food, no special occasion, just so there will be stuff I can eat. And I need to put a bunch of things away because the volume of all the un-put-away stuff is causing me to feel irritated and anxious cuz I need space to live my life. 🙃 Trying not to get stuck on the corner of the couch where I have space to sit.
Natalie! What a delightful and unexpected surprise to see you here! I have simply arranged my day so that being stuck on the corner of the couch is actually what I'm "supposed" to be doing, lol. But I totally get that tipping point, where avoiding the mess becomes too anxiety-producing to avoid anymore. Best of luck! Keep us posted.
I can feel it, today is the day! I'm gonna get my printer set up finally! (been looking forward to a working printer for months) (also will be cleaning the bathroom) (get the boring chore out of the way first)
Go go go! Printers are machines of the devil, lol 😈. So lovely to see you here Maren!
I want to make a lasagna today to eat tomorrow, because it is MUCH better the next day.
I have been combatting boredom by discovering new cuisines and cooking interesting things. While my son and I were in Chicago this weekend, we tried Columbian food and fell instantly in love. So last night we made Columbian beans and arepas and OMG was it good. I have also been making Japanese food.
Anyway, the lasagna uses a bechamel sauce instead of ricotta. Last time I made it the only cheese I used was parm, and I missed that meltiness. So I am adding fresh mozz this go-around. I also thought my bolognese was a bit flat with just ground beef, so this time I am adding sweet Italian sausage. And because I have time, Ima cook that sombitch for a couple of hours.
I also promised one kid driving lessons and the other making dalgona (Korean candy) together.
DRIVING LESSONS??? In my mind your kids are still littles, lol. So glad to have you here! The lasagna sounds delish!!
The dude is an ADULT! How time flies.
Mine are 27 and 21 now.
Hi Marta!
Today I’d like to bake a loaf of bread, do some laundry, and finally get my dahlia tubers in their pine shavings for winter storage. That last task I’ve been delaying for six weeks & I’m tired of seeing them in the basement every time I go down there!
-Eva
I just realized today really needs to be a bread-baking day for me too if I want toast tomorrow morning. Which I very much do! Good luck with the dahlia’s ! Send photos when they bloom!
Toast for tomorrow morning is why I’m making bread too! And the body doubling worked, woohoo-the tubers are now in their shavings! I still need to tidy up, but I’m taking an oatmeal break first. :)
I’m about to take a left-over fried rice break and get my bread dough mixed up. I make a part whole wheat enriched (with buttermilk, eggs, and honey) bread as my weekly go-to.
Oooh that sounds so good. I love brioche! Do you have a recipe? I mixed up my dough, it’s got about half an hour left in the first rise.
It’s really more of a loaf bread with a very nice dense crumb. Great for toast. I’ll post the recipe soon—I’m working on my novel!
That’s awesome you’re working on your novel! Congrats!
I finished cleaning up after the dahlia tubers and my bread is baked, just need to swap laundry loads and I’m good for the day. Thank you for the body doubling-I ended up getting other stuff done too thanks to the momentum!
Congrats on the tubers!
https://cupofjo.com/2022/02/02/found-easy-same-day-peasant-bread-recipe/
My go to simple bread recipe-makes great toast!
How/why I found the Spiral Lab and this post when I am supposed to be typing address labels for my mom's 90th birthday party is beyond me BUT I def need accountability for this "do now" task. I guess that's WHY I found it. Wish me luck!
thank you! More than halfway through - about to enter handwritten edits into the Word doc. Grateful to be a part of this community.
Go you!!
I have had a tough week looking for rentals and getting pushed back. Tomorrow is Monday in Australia so I am taking this Sunday to have a rest day. That said, I do have storage crates in my car I need to get out so I can start packing up the kitchen. I also need to think about what we’re doing for dinner tonight, probably Dahl.
Oof, moving is brutal. I’m glad you’re getting some rest!
love this artwork!
Thanks Devon!
Helping my spouse reorganize their creative space so we’re taking it one category at a time. Today I have LEGOs to organize, have them all pulled out!
I remember those days!
I didn’t check back in but I managed to get them into a better set of more organized storage containers. What’s funny is we don’t have kids… these are mostly my LEGOs that had been encroaching on their working space so now I’m getting them out of there.
My adult son still likes legos, but the kits that build something specific. I think they are timeless!
Thank you for this! Today I will walk my kid to work, then go to a cafe and order the poems in my client's manuscript. I've been awash in/drained by administrivia all week, and haven't been able to access the required focus - plus procrastinating because I adore her and her work and want to do it justice. Today I'll sit at my favorite table in the cafe and dive into work I love.
Oh! And there will be a reward/motivator: crispy bacon, home fries, cappuccino, and time to immerse myself in Le Guin's *Always Coming Home,* which I'm loving.
i would find that hugely motivating, lol!
that sounds so lovely! I hope it goes well for you.