Writing for me is extremely mental. In order for me to begin my personal writing process, I need to first go through my morning routine. When I wake up in the morning I usually make a protein shake with this powder, two bananas, some peanut butter and water. I drink this on my way to go to the gym. As Socrates once said, “Surely a person of sense would submit to anything, like exercise, so as to obtain a well functioning mind and a pleasant, happy life”
After the gym I head back to my room to begin writing. I believe that the added adrenaline from going to the gym allows me to think clearer and avoid the mental hurdles of being unable to think of the right word or hitting a sort of writer’s block. I usually begin by brainstorming ideas of what I want to write and just begin writing. With most of my writing, I feel like I end up having to edit several times in order to actually narrow down my train of thought.
I love having natural light come into my room as I write, this is the view from outside my house. Although this image is filled with clouds, usually the sun shines directly through between 11 AM-3 PM which is perfect for my ideal time for writing.
On very nice warm days I like to go outside with my laptop into my backyard and do my homework there instead. There is something to be said about the serenity of nature. As birds chirp and the wind whistles through the trees, I truly feel as though I fall through a deep tranquility which allows me to clear my head of all external thoughts.
I have one extremely unhealthy (or healthy, depends how you look at it) addiction especially when it comes time to complete my work and that is eating. Here I took the time to barbecue some tri-tip and create myself a little tri-tip taco wrap type thing (it does not have a name). I truly believe that a good meal sets the mood for the next couple hours so I try to take the time and cook for myself as much as I can. A well fed body is a well fed mind and that leads to increased productivity.
Usually by mid-afternoon I try to attend to the other facets of my life while still trying to be productive. This is the study room in my fraternity house which is actually located on campus. Here I can study with my friends and while it maybe not the most productive area to study, I find that having people around me helps me avoid burning out while doing my work. I believe that writing is somewhat like a long drive and like driving a car, it’s not always smart to stay at 7000 rpm the whole time. Sometimes it is best to coast.
If my writing assignment usually involves a lot of research or a lot of writing in general I try to break up the writing into increments of 15-30 minutes. Once I feel slightly tired I login to lichess.org and play some blitz games (3-8 minute speed games). Playing chess is one of my favorite hobbies and what I have found to be a very fun pastime when you need a small break.
Similarly, playing piano also helps me relax and enjoy some time resting. Contrary to common belief, when one is not “practicing” piano but simply playing songs they already know, it is similar to taking a shower in that the mind is free to wander. I found that many times throughout high school that I would plan out my assignments while playing the piano. I think that good writing stems from good ideas of what to write. Especially in terms of blog posts, if I find myself not wanting to write, the end product is not what I hoped for. Therefore having a routine and a process with many different ways to focus my concentration is key for my personal writing style.
The Current State of the Second Amendment 