Karen Brown Tyson

Tag: #writers

30 Ways to Help You Reset Your Creative Time, Mind and Soul

Since starting my business in 2018, I have been going nonstop. My days have been filled with client meetings, freelance assignments, speaking engagements, writing books, teaching classes, and community service. I’m grateful for everything God leads me to do. My public relations, corporate, and marketing communications background has helped me develop creative ways to grow my business. But lately, it seemed like my beautiful, creative life was moving into overdrive. By the time I reached August 2021, my creative time, mind, and soul were running on fumes.

As someone all about continuous improvement, I decided to use some of my Lean Six Sigma training. From my days in corporate America, I learned to use Lean Six Sigma to make things better. So, how was I going to improve my creative time, mind, and soul? I decided to hit the reset button (one of my favorite things to do).

While I was on a business retreat, I challenged myself to do one of three things: 1) Keep the habits I know work for me, 2) Return to the habits I stopped doing, or 3) try some new things for 30 days. This process helped me reset my creative time, mind, and soul while helping me find new sanity-saving routines.

Since I strongly believe in Hebrews 10:24:

We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works.

I thought I would share some of the ideas I came up with for myself and add a few to give you 30 ways to reset your creative time, mind, and soul, too. My prayer is that these ideas will inspire you to add something different to your creative life.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Mind

Adjust your thinking every day.

The way you think can affect many things in your life, including how you work. For example, holding onto negative thoughts or replaying bad memories can put a damper on your mindset. So at the start of each day, adjust your thinking to focus on positive thoughts.

Read 5 pages each day.

Reading 5 pages a day is a great way to relax. But remember…if you don’t like to read, try audiobooks!

Exercise your brain.

Give your brain a break from work. Exercise your brain by learning a new language, playing games, and taking a cooking class.

Take a walk.

Going for a walk isn’t just good for the body; it’s also great for the mind. It can help improve your mood and let you clear your head at night after a stressful day.

Allow yourself to make changes in your day.

When you feel like something is off with your day, take a moment to reflect on what that might be. Then, whatever it is, permit yourself to change things up.

Schedule regular “me-time” moments.

You deserve to take a break from your hectic schedule. So make sure you have the time to relax and unwind every day.

Keep a self-care journal.

It’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I recommend keeping a journal and writing down your feelings regularly. This will help you feel better and think more clearly throughout the day.

Schedule regular breaks to unplug.

It’s important to schedule regular breaks throughout your workday to help you stay focused.

Close your eyes for 30 seconds.

You should close your eyes for about thirty seconds. It’s an easy way to relax and reduce stress.

Step away from social media one day per week.

I recommend that you give yourself a break from social media every once in a while. I do it once a week, and it really helps me stay focused.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Soul

Schedule moments of silence and solitude.

One technique I use to keep balanced is creating moments of silence and solitude. Taking time out every day for focused reflection helps reduce stress, making me more productive.

Meditate on Scripture.

Scripture meditation is an excellent way to quiet your mind and rest in the presence of God.



Surround yourself with positive affirmations.

I think the best way to achieve your goals is by surrounding yourself with positive affirmations. That’s why I created a list of my own, and I hang it on my wall so that they’re always in front of me.



Find a way to encourage someone daily.

One of the best ways to nurture your creative soul is by encouraging others. So keep an eye out for opportunities to pat others on the back or make someone smile!

Help someone in need.

Consider volunteering. Not only will you be helping someone in need, but you could also make a new friend and improve your community.

Create a wind-down routine.

It’s important to set aside time each day to decompress from work. Even if you only have a few minutes, it can make a big difference in your mental health and well-being. Try doing something you enjoy, like taking a hot bath, listening to music, or reading a book.



Warm yourself with a cup of tea.

A nice cup of tea is always soothing. If you find yourself feeling stressed, try some chamomile flowers or mint leaves for a calming effect.

Record your thoughts in a gratitude journal.

Keeping a gratitude journal is important because it will help you appreciate the little things in life.



Remove clutter from your work and living spaces.

Clutter can make even the most organized person feel disorganized. Not only does it take up your space, but it could also be a distraction! However, cleaning your home and workspace is a great way to feel refreshed. You can start by purging the items you don’t need and then organize what’s left.

Dream BIG!

The best way to take care of your creative soul is by dreaming big. Make time in your day to think of all the possibilities that are out there for you. If you need an inspiring book, consider Bob Goff’s book, Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Time

Work on your most creative and fulfilling projects when your energy level is high.

I am a morning person. I wake up every day around 4 a.m. to begin my day. My problem is that I have been trying to work all day and half the night. As you can imagine, I start to lose steam by 7 or 8 p.m. So instead of spreading my creative projects over the day, I set aside a certain amount of hours each morning. I’m using my afternoons for non-creative tasks, meetings, and emails.

Focus on 3 daily goals instead of monthly goals.

Although I have a planner that outlines my monthly goals, I’ve been using daily goals to make it through each day. Using a combination of notebooks and Post-It Notes, I write out my 3 most important daily goals each morning.

Build a habit of single-tasking

In my attempt to do as much in a day as possible, I fell into the trap of multitasking. Instead of getting more done, it only left me feeling overwhelmed. So, using my PomoDone App, I switched to single-tasking by focusing on one task at a time.

Adopt the time-blocking method

Time blocking is a technique used to plan out every moment of your day in advance and dedicate specific time blocks for certain tasks or responsibilities. Once I started time blocking, I felt more control over my time and the tasks I needed to complete.

Batch email time

Nothing kills your creative time like email. Don’t get me wrong; I love email. But when I found myself reading every email as it popped into my inbox, I knew I had a problem. So, I decided to schedule the times when I would read and respond to my emails. Then, outside of my scheduled time, I turned my email off to avoid interruptions.

Start a creativity journal.

The best way to ensure that you stay inspired and creative is by journaling. The process of writing ideas down will help you keep track of the concepts, and it allows for reflection, which can serve as inspiration in future challenges.

Switch up your work environment.

To focus better, don’t be afraid to move to a different work environment. Clear out distractions like clutter and use sounds, light, plants to help guide your attention in the right direction.

Don’t let productivity kill your creativity.

Productivity is vital in any business, but don’t let that stand in your way of being creative. If a cluttered desk or work table helps you think and works for you, don’t feel the need to change. Instead, focus on surrounding yourself with the things you need to keep your creative juices flowing.

Make time to daydream.

I can remember when people would say, Get your head out of the clouds! While this statement was meant to stop people from daydreaming, the clouds may be the perfect place for creative entrepreneurs—schedule time to daydream or brainstorm new ideas or products.

Test your ideas.

As your ideas move from daydreams to actual products, make time to test your ideas. With each test, you will be inspired to make changes and keep moving forward.

How have you reset your creative mind, soul, and time?

September 9, 2021
How to Reset Your Creative Business to Keep Your Goals on Track
Do you need a business retreat? Do you use your retreat as a time to look at the goals for your creative business? I hope your answer to both questions is yes. Not only will a business retreat allow you to get away from your routine, but your time away can help you analyze your progress and reset your creative business.

I can’t resist the opportunity to reflect and reset. For my business retreat, my family and I rented an Airbnb for a few days. Not only did I take a look back at everything I had planned for this year, but I was able to see areas for improvement so I could move forward. For everything I was able to accomplish this year, I am grateful to God. During my time of reflection, I remembered James 1:17:

Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.

So if you’re feeling stuck in your creative business, this blog post is for you. I’m going to share with you some tips on how to reset your creative business to keep your goals on track.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Take a break for a day, or even just an hour, from your creative work.

While I believe in business retreats, I also believe every creative entrepreneur and writer needs rest. As I mentioned in last week’s post, it’s easy to forget that we all need downtime. But if we manage our stress and take care of ourselves, it can do wonders for our productivity. So, for your business retreat, take a day or a few hours for yourself. Do you have to leave town or rent an Airbnb? No. Spend time with family or catch up on your sleep or reading at home. The most important point is to take a break for yourself.

Reassess your goals and priorities.

The mid-year point is a great time to reassess your goals and priorities. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to clarify how you want the next 6 to 12 months of your creative business to go. As you reassess your goals and priorities, this may be one of those times where it’s best to take some deep breaths and think about the goals you have planned for this year. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How many sales have I made this year?
- How much money am I spending on expenses each month?
- How much are my profits for the year?
- How much does each of my products cost?
- For each product – how many people visited the sales page?
- For each product – what is my conversion rate?
- What should I offer next? Why?
- Which products or offers should I stop focusing on? Why?
- What new products or offers should I test?
Measure and reflect on what you’ve done so far this year.

Next, gather data from any tools you use to manage your creative or writing business. For my business, I take a look at data from:

Google Analytics

My Shopping Carts (ThriveCart and SendOwl)

Email Service Provider (ConvertKit)

My Social Media Scheduler (CoSchedule)

My Pinterest Scheduler (Tailwind)

My Project Management Tool (Meistertask)

Once you gather your information, it’s time to take stock of where your business stands right now- What things are going well? Where could improvement be made? Keep in mind: any progress you have made this year should be celebrated. So take a moment to reflect by recording your thoughts in your journal.

Look at the big picture of where you want to go in the next 12 months.

Imagine what the next chapter of your business might look like. What would be some milestones you hope to achieve? How about an end goal for where you want this all to go in 12 months if success were a destination and not just a journey.
This is no small task: it’s going to take more than dreaming up ideas or brainstorming them into existence; those are the easy parts! Your roadmap entails setting goals that will guide everything from your marketing plan to how often you publish content on social media channels. It means having faith when plans hit snags and getting back out there with renewed vigor after every setback – never giving up until each milestone has been reached (and surpassed).

Create new goals and strategies that are realistic but challenging enough to keep things interesting.

Keeping things interesting is key to a successful strategy. So why not try something new and fresh? A common misconception of business leaders is that they must repeatedly do the same thing to be considered “successful.” However, this mindset can lead businesses into complacency as much as stagnation: repetition breeds boredom! But this isn’t you. You’re a creative entrepreneur unafraid to try new things. Building on past successes while thinking outside the box with innovative strategies will help your creative business reach newer heights year after year.

Time to get back to work but don’t forget to have fun along the way.

You’re a creative entrepreneur with a never-ending to-do list, and you need some encouragement. Well, don’t worry. You can have fun on the way as long as you remember these four things:

1) Learn from your mistakes because they make for great stories.

2) Keep yourself accountable by setting goals that align with your overall business strategy.

3) Put your faith in action. Trust God to help you live out the plan he has for your life.

4) And most importantly, keep believing in yourself no matter what people say or think. If we know one thing about creative entrepreneurs, they don’t like to give up until their dreams come true.

It’s time to focus and reset. Whether you need a mental break or some downtime, you must take the necessary steps for your own well-being to avoid burnout. Take a moment to rest, tell God how you feel, and ask Him to give you the strength to reset and move forward (see also ‘How To Make Time For God With A Busy Schedule‘). To help you, I created a FREE Rest and Reset Journal. I invite you to download a copy today.
August 26, 2021
How to Take a Break as a Creative Entrepreneur to Avoid Burnout

You know that feeling when you’ve been on your feet for hours or days, and the only thing you want to do is sit down? I can’t tell you how many times in my life I’ve felt like this. As a creative entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in the work we have to do, not taking time for ourselves.

In addition, what about our health? Our well-being? These are just as important as getting our work done. Burnout is a real problem that creative entrepreneurs face. Many of us struggle with taking breaks, and we end up working ourselves into the ground. God’s word reminds us:

It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest. (Psalm 127:2)

In today’s post, I’ll be sharing with you how to rest and reset your creativity so you can avoid burnout and return to your projects refreshed.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Changing your perception about taking a break can help you find balance as a creative entrepreneur.

I know many creative entrepreneurs who never take a break from work and refuse to disconnect. Collapsing at the end of every day isn’t healthy for any individual; creative entrepreneurs must balance work and rest. Tell yourself it’s okay to take a break when you need one. Ask God to give you the strength to let go, especially when you need a break.

Schedule dedicated time to rest and refresh.

Set aside dates on your calendar for vacation time or mental health days. If you work with an office team, let them know which times you will be out of the office and share any specific instructions about how they should proceed in your absence. Add time with God to your daily schedule. If you only have a few minutes, read scriptures or a daily devotional.

Figure out the type of rest you need before taking a break.

There are different types of rest. If you’ve been waking up early and going to bed late, you may need physical rest. After launching a product that took months to develop, you may need mental rest. If you’re feeling disconnected from God, you may need spiritual rest that allows you time to pray and fast. Once you figure out the type of rest you need, plan your break around this type of rest.

Create an “idea box” for writing your thoughts and ideas

One of the great things about being a creative entrepreneur is that inspiration can strike any time. During your break, if an idea pops in your head, put it in your “idea box.” Your idea box can be a notebook or Post-It notes. When you have an idea, jot it down quickly, then return to what you were doing (which, hopefully, is nothing).

Use the downtime to finally complete projects you’ve been putting off.

If you want to take a break from your business, but you don’t want to disconnect your brain from all forms of work completely, perhaps you should complete a household project. For example, if you always wanted to tidy up the Marie Kondo way, your downtime may be a perfect opportunity to organize your clothes or books. But don’t overdo it. Your break should not be overwhelming or exhausting. Nor should it focus on working too hard.

Don’t forget to include exercise during your downtime.

Whether you decide to take a break for one day or two weeks, don’t forget to include exercise. Even if you only have 30 minutes, add at least one workout to your day off. Research shows exercise improves body image, self-esteem, and mental health. You don’t have to sign up for a turbo cycling class. If possible, go for a walk or play outside with your kiddos.

Have fun!

In trying to get away from the day-to-day grind of your business, remember why you took a break. Don’t add to your stress by adding a bunch of new projects. Instead, have fun on your day off. Play games, watch movies, spend time with friends and family.

It’s easy to forget that we all need downtime. But, when you take a break from your hectic work schedule and focus on yourself for a change, it can do wonders for your productivity. Hopefully, the tips outlined here help get you started. So, don’t be afraid to schedule time away from the office or your business. You deserve a break. Let me know what works best for you.

August 19, 2021
How Time-Crunched Writers Make Time to Edit Like a Pro
If you are a busy writer who just finished writing your first non-fiction book, congratulations! If you haven’t finished writing yet, but you want to prepare for the next step, you’re in the right place—time to look ahead to the editing phase. Today’s post, the third in a series on how to write your first nonfiction book with a busy schedule, offers tips on how time-crunched writers make time to edit like a pro.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

Understanding the editing process.

The editing process can be tedious. It requires reading the same text multiple times, with a different focus each time. While there are specific steps you must take in editing fiction vs. nonfiction, the general steps follow a certain pattern which includes:

Step 1: Read the entire text before editing

The goal is to revisit what you wrote and why.

Step 2: Review with a fine-toothed comb

Clean up the manuscript by fixing typos, punctuation errors, grammatical mistakes, and style issues.

Step 3: Look at the manuscript’s “big picture.”

Check to determine if the flow of the manuscript is right. Look for unanswered questions and missing information that would make the manuscript stronger.

Step 4: Fact-check everything.

Check all sources. Ensure the accuracy of all dates, locations, names, and titles.

Step 5: Revise

Once the missing or new information has been added and the gaps have been exposed, it’s time to revise. Aim to remove redundancies, eliminate wordy text, and trim for length.

Before you edit, get organized.

Before you start editing, get organized. Create a plan by answering the following questions:
1. On which days do you plan to edit your book?
2. How long will each session last?
3. Where will you work?
4. How will you edit each chapter — individually or collectively as one large document?
5. If additional information is needed, how and when will you gather the research?
6. What grammar check will you use? Grammarly or ProWritingAid? (Both writing apps are AWESOME!)
Block time on your calendar for editing.

Creating an editing schedule is just as important as creating a writing schedule. Make sure the time you choose to edit your book is when you have the most energy. It would be a waste of time to edit when you are sleepy or have a foggy brain.

Using the answers to the questions above, schedule each editing session on your calendar. Try to select times when you’re less likely to have interruptions. For my latest book, I did my editing between 4:30 and 7 a.m. because it was quiet in my house with little to no distractions.

Use an editing checklist.

Using a checklist to edit your book is a great way to ensure efficiency. A detailed checklist will help you identify specific tips and tricks to follow when going through your novel. Your checklist should include ideas on words to avoid, cliché phrases to remove, and even suggestions for replacements.

Here are a few examples to include:
- Omit unnecessary words – A rule that follows its advice and should be the hallmark of every writer.
- Avoid subtle redundancies – delete anything that is repetitive and acts as a filler.
- Avoid throat-clearing – This is a literary term for a story or chapter that finally begins after a page or two of scene-setting and background. Get on with it.
Create a deadline.

While you’ve created a schedule for the editing process, it is important to set a deadline. Setting a deadline gives you something to work towards. Having a clear deadline will ensure that you complete the editing process to move your book to publication.

Hire an editor.

After self-editing your manuscript, consider hiring a professional editor and proofreader. The following types of editors include:

Developmental editor. This editor provides a structural edit of the book to ensure the book’s text flows well, makes logical points, and answers expected questions. A developmental editor works with the author during the writing phase.

Copy or line editor. This editor conducts a word-by-word review of the book to correct grammar, spelling, typos, and consistency. A copy editor works with the author once the author has rewritten and edited the book.

Proofreader. Before sending your manuscript to print, a proofreader can review your book at the end of the rewriting and editing phase to ensure the book is ready for publication.

Summary

Like the book-writing process, editing is hard work. But I encourage you to embrace editing.

By answering a few questions upfront, you can get organized before you start editing.

In the same way, you made time to write, you must make time to edit. Don’t ruin a great story by skimping on the editing process. Take the time your story needs before pressing the publish button. But create a deadline to stay on track.

Once you complete your self-editing process, hire professional editors and proofreaders to help you get your book to the finish line.

For more information on writing your first nonfiction book, check out these ten steps to writing a nonfiction book. I’d love to help you as you take the next steps in your writing life. To get started, complete this form to let me know about your current nonfiction writing project and needs.
April 27, 2021
How to Reach Your Goals with a Powerful Writing Routine

“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually, you get better at it.

That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”

― Octavia E. Butler

Whether you are a part-time writer or a full-time author, it can be challenging to find time to write.

You need more than a pen and paper to write.

You need motivation, ideas, determination, and most importantly, you need time.

It is not easy to create a consistent and productive writing routine. It takes discipline and persistence. This article will share actionable steps on how to design a powerful writing routine.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

But first, let’s take a look at:

5 Reasons Why You Need a Writing Routine

As a professional communicator and a part-time writer, I have learned the benefits of a writing routine. A writing habit will help you to:

Identify as a writer

Becoming a writer doesn’t come with a title. When you dedicate time to your writing through a regular routine, you feel like a writer. Once my students establish a regular writing routine, I encourage them to embrace their identity as a writer.

Stop waiting for motivation.

By creating a schedule where you write at a specific time or in a particular place, you can stop waiting for inspiration. Instead, a writing routine is designed to send a signal to your brain that it’s time to write. The more you write, the more you feel motivated.

Avoid procrastinating

Without a scheduled writing time, you will likely push off writing until another time. However, if you schedule your writing sessions, you will feel more compelled to write, even if you only have 10, 15, or 30 minutes.

Improve your writing skills

When you write regularly, your writing skills will improve, and you will become a better writer. When I was in graduate school, I had to write research papers weekly. Although I did not write every day, the practice helped me improve my writing over time.

Exercise your creative muscles

Last year, I read about James Altucher’s approach to capturing ideas. He writes ten ideas every day. Altucher believes if you make a list of ten ideas each day, you will become an idea machine. I love this idea, so as part of my writing routine, I take time to write ideas before I start writing.

5 Actionable Ways You Can Build a Writing Routine

Here are a few ways that will help you establish a writing routine that works for you.

1. Establish a Set Time and Space for Writing

Dedicate a specific time for each writing session. Choose a time that fits your work schedule and family commitments. Some people feel more creative in the mornings; others find it easier to focus at night. Whatever time you choose, make sure that you write at the same time each time you sit down to write.

Where you write has a significant impact on how you write. Therefore, dedicate a space for writing where you feel comfortable. Having a writing space will help you get into a writing mood and enhance focus.

Setting a time and space for writing is crucial for designing a powerful writing routine.

2. Determine your Writing Goals

The first step is to have clear goals of what you want to accomplish during your weekly, monthly, and yearly writing sessions.

Are you trying to write the first chapter of your book?

Are you trying to write a specific amount of pages or words?

Is this an editing session?

Write your one goal for each writing session and write down how you will define having achieved this goal. Setting a goal will help you focus on one thing at a time.

For example, you can set goals like:

I will write for at least 15 minutes.

I will write at least 500 words.

I will finish one chapter.

I will write at least one page.

I use small goals all the time, especially while writing my latest book. Having goals, no matter how small, will keep you motivated and productive during your writing session.

Also, you can include monthly and yearly goals as part of your writing routine. For example, as part of my monthly writing routine, I join other writers during online webinars or writing sprints.

3. Track Your Habits

When you record your scheduled routine for the day, it plays a vital role in bringing you even closer to your goals. Most successful writers use a calendar or journal to write their plans and their to-do lists for the day.

Keeping a journal will help you in tracking your writing habits and create a roadmap for your goals.

4. Identify your writing and non-writing tasks

As part of your writing session, divide your tasks into two groups — writing and non-writing. Writing tasks involve blog posts, articles, brochures, books, etc. Non-writing tasks are everything you must complete to support your writing tasks. For example, the research you need to write your book or blog post.

During your writing session, focus on one task at a time. Resist the temptation of working on both writing and non-writing tasks at the same time. For example, don’t research and write your book at the same time.

5. Join a Writer’s Community

In a regular office job, you meet your employers, your co-workers, and your friends. The human connection not only keeps you energetic but also makes you feel accountable.

As a writer, you can join communities where you can mingle with other writers. These meetings will bring more inspiration, more motivation, and more opportunities. You can join Facebook groups and paid communities for writers.

In Summary

Ready to use your new writing routine? Don’t wait for tomorrow. Start now!

It is easy for people to feel inspired by something, make plans to take action, and forget about them the next day. Your life is busy. Your days are packed with work and appointments. And, there are so many important things that you need to do first.

But, trust me, there is no better time to start than right now. Take your first step towards building a powerful writing routine today.

Looking for ideas? Find some here

February 4, 2021