A = Acknowledge Achievements
We are now up to A in HABITS in the CREATIVE HABITS series. I hope you are continuing to find the posts give you food for thought on how to keep the spark in your creativity as a writer and infopreneur.
Acknowledgement for achievements is what everyone wants. I know an aknowledging ‘pat on the back’ spurs me on to be more creative and to put more into my writing.
A victory won though, is nothing without someone to share it with or some kind of celebration for the victory. Infopreneurs and writers, especially those who work from home, will not always have someone around to celebrate milestones with. That’s why we should rejoice in our own achievements as authors.
Giving yourself a simple treat, or a pat on the back, can give you even more encouragement to continue the writing. Recognizing achievements does two things. It gives you further enjoyment to reach more goals, and it gives you a chance to celebrate and recognie how far you have come.
Especially if you are working on a large project, such as a novel, you should break the task up into smaller sections, so that you can have some celebratory milestones along the way. Reaching a milestone, such as the end of a chapter, is an achievement, and should be acknowledged. Obviously, the publisher is only going to want to celebrate when the entire book is finished, but there is no reason why you can’t go and have a piece of your favorite cake at your local café to celebrate finishing the chapter.
Acknowledging achievements, even the small ones, can give you the energy and renewed enthusiasm for the whole project. It is worthwhile setting small goals for each day, and giving yourself the treat of acknowledging what you have achieved. Personally, I love to do lists. On days when I have a lot of writing to achieve, I’ll break it up into smaller tasks, each article, group of pages, chapter, or research section goes on my to do list, usually on my whiteboard.
Then, as I achieve each item, I either cross it off or rub the task off the whiteboard. I might tell myself that at the end of two tasks, I’ll treat myself to a coffee, a piece of fruit, or a break for a short time. This not only helps keep me focused and motivated to achieve each task, but helps me to remember to celebrate my achievements.
When you finish a large project, such as a novel, make sure your achievement is acknowledged by your whole family. Take the time out to go out for a special dinner, or even a large treat like a night in a hotel or a holiday, depending on the size of the project. If the project has taken you 18 months to achieve, a little piece of cake won’t feel like a celebration.
Celebrating achievements, even throughout the working day, gives you a mental break. Often we don’t take time to celebrate because we are so focused on the next task, the next page, the next chapter. But taking just a couple of minutes to acknowledge an achievement can help you focus better on the next task, giving you time to breath and not rush from task to task.
Be nice to yourself as an author, and acknowledge your own achievements. Celebrate your creative art, your work, and your life to be happier and content with what you are doing. Acknowledging your achievements is important, and gives you many mental benefits. So what are you waiting for? Achieve a goal today and celebrate it accordingly!
