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I’m not a psychologist or any other kind of “ist” professional, but it seems to me that being shy and/or introverted has at least a bit to do with our self-confidence level. And our self-confidence is tied to how we feel about ourselves. And how we feel about ourselves has a lot to do with how we feel about our bodies.
I’m a personal fitness trainer in my “other” job and spend my days helping people get fit and healthy. I love watching my clients gain self-confidence as they increase their fitness level and improve their diets.
We writers spend a lot of time sitting on our behinds, not moving much, and probably not making the best food choices. I’ve decided to make Mondays the day to share a small tip or suggestion with you, baby steps to improving your health and fitness.
This week’s tip: Make 30 inactive minutes active.
I want you to think about your day. I can pretty much guarantee you can find 30 minutes to which you can add some activity. It doesn’t have to be all at once. I’m talking simple movement and activity, nothing formal or strenuous.
Ideas:
- When you’re staring at your computer screen or notebook, trying to come up with the next scene or fix a plot problem, could you think while you’re walking around the block, around the house, up and down the stairs, while bouncing on a big fitness ball? While rolling your shoulders?
- If you have a desk job, get up and go visit that co-worker rather than emailing him/her.
- Can you use a bathroom on a different floor, or use the stairs rather than the elevator?
- While standing in line at the store/post office/wherever, do calf raises or deep breathing or butt squeezes.
- Instead of plopping down on the couch to watch the news or your favorite sitcom, sit on the floor and stretch or do some crunches or pushups.
- While brushing your teeth, balance on one leg for the top teeth, and switch legs for the bottom teeth.
- While brushing your teeth or doing dishes, do some calf raises.
The possibilities are endless. I like to listen to books on tape. I’ll tell myself I can only “read” while I’m cleaning house or walking outside or on the treadmill. It's amazing how much I'll get done while listening to a thriller!
What times of the day are you inactive? Can you think of a way to make that time more active? Can you think of little ways to add more activity into your day?
One of my 2010 goals is to schedule out guests and posts for this blog. I'm not the most organized person in the world, as you've realized if you're following this blog.
I'm going to start something new--Every Monday I'll post a Healthy Mondays column. In my "other" job, I'm a personal fitness trainer. I help people get fit and healthy through exercise and a sensible diet. Because the job of writing keeps us sitting on our tushies for long periods of time, and because we don't always choose the healthiest snacks while we write, I thought you all might be interested in learning some baby steps you can take to live a healthier life. These will be short posts with easy suggestions anyone can do.
Fridays (or most Fridays anyway) will continue to be the day for posts on the joys and challenges of being a shy and/or introverted writer.
I am paralyzed by fear.
My first book comes out next month—just four short weeks away—yet I’ve barely done any promo for it. Why? Because I’m scared.
Normally, I don’t mind being an introvert. It’s so much a part of who I am, that I’ve learned to live with it and overcome the parts of it I don’t like. But it’s really getting in the way of my promotional plan.
My fear has many facets. One is that people other than my CPs and editor will actually read my book. Yes, I know this is a good thing. It’s actually the point of getting a book published. But what if they don’t like it? What if certain people want to critique my steamy love scenes? What if my conservative family/friends/co-workers are offended by those steamy love scenes?
I have some great ideas for promo. I wrote much of this book at a certain coffee shop near downtown Seattle. I could hold a booksigning there. They know me by name. But that would require me asking the manager about this. What’s the worst that could happen? He could say no. BFD, yes, I know. But still, I haven’t gotten up the nerve to ask yet.
A friend of mine who has a big naughty toy party every year offered to have me sign books during the party this year, which is right around my release date. She hasn’t brought it up in a while, and I hesitate to remind her. Why? Because I’m afraid she’ll have changed her mind or think I’m bugging her. Even though I really don’t believe either of those scenarios, I still haven’t reminded her.
I have a favorite independent bookstore that I’ve been meaning to talk to about ordering my books and having a booksigning there. Haven’t done that either. You know why.
I haven’t posted any excerpts on any of my loops.
I haven’t contacted the owners of many of my favorite blogs to see if I can be a guest.
I haven’t put together any bookmarks, postcards, ANYTHING to pre-promote my book.
I feel like I’m wearing a straight-jacket. I really, really, really want to do all these things I’ve mentioned, but my hands are tied.
Anyway, my hope is that by putting my fears in print, it’ll motivate me to get off my introverted a$$ (gosh, I wish it really WERE introverted; it would fit much better in my jeans) and get promoting!
I also hope my fellow shy writers will have some tips for me. And my not-so-shy-writer friends can give me the proverbial butt kick I so desperately need.
