1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations.
At the end of each week, I’ve been sharing an idea from Tynan’s book Superhuman by Habit about how to install specific, positive habits into your life.
So far, we’ve covered:
- Building positivity
- Being compassionate
- Eating healthy
- Improving sleep
- Learning mindfulness
- Working out
- Seeking out masterpieces
2: Want to think more clearly?
Communicate more effectively?
Write every day.
“I began writing my blog nine years ago, completely on a lark and without any expectations for it,” Tynan shares in his book Superhuman by Habit.
“Since then it’s become a major avenue of connecting with other people, and has become a primary source of income,” he says.
“My habit,” Tynan notes, “is to write every day of the week and then post the best two to my blog.”
What should you write about? Tynan says it doesn’t really matter.
“What you write about is not important. Neither is the quality of the writing,” he explains.
What does he do if he has writer’s block? “If you’re really stuck just write about how you’re really stuck,” he says. “Even after nine years of writing, I still do this sometimes.”
3: But the biggest benefit to writing every day?
“It has made me a clearer and more precise thinker and communicator,” Tynan observes.
“To be clear, I recommend this habit even if you don’t care at all about writing and don’t want to blog or write a book,” he notes.
“At first your writing might be horrible and you might find it difficult to articulate your thoughts,” he observes.
“That’s completely fine. It just means that you’ll benefit even more from the habit.”
It’s easy to believe you understand something clearly. Trying to put it into words quickly reveals whether you actually do.
Writing “forces you to be thorough about evaluating thoughts, helps synthesize input into output, and transforms you into a clearer communicator,” Tynan writes.
As with any habit, focus on consistency rather than quality, especially at first.
Measure success by writing a certain number of words each day or for a set amount of time, perhaps 10 or 30 minutes.
“Over time the habit will become easy,” Tynan shares. “You’ll become very good at articulating your thoughts, and you’ll end up becoming a decent writer.”
The goal isn’t simply to become a better writer. It’s to become a clearer thinker.
More next week!
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Reflection: How might writing regularly help you clarify what you’re thinking?
Action: Set a timer for 10 minutes today and write. Don’t worry about the topic or the quality. Just keep writing until the timer goes off.
This is a bonus post for the week, as I was traveling and didn’t post last weekend.