I Created A Comic Strip

Neera

Tom Kuegler wrote the other day, “If writing an article feels like pulling teeth, then you need to change the topic.”

Lately, I have been feeling that my writing is getting stale. That I am running out of fresh ideas. I love writing about traveling, writing, productivity, and personal development, but I can’t do it over and over again. It feels like I am just adding to the noise.

So I changed the topic. I created a comic strip.

Image by the author

I gave the main character my name — Gogi. My nickname. The name my grandfather gave me. A name nobody has. And today, I found a comic character with the same name. A Pakistani girl created it. She gave her heroine my name! And she sketches much better than me. BBC even did a story about her and her comics.

But her topics are different. She creates comics about women’s issues and social constraints, whereas I will tackle productivity, writing, and creativity challenges.

How I Made My Willpower Work For Me

Neera

I was resisting the temptation to indulge in a slice of birthday cake since yesterday. At the start of the year, I made a pact with myself to cut sugar from my diet. But at night, just after dinner, my resolve crumbled.

I don’t even remember how I ended up in front of the fridge, took out the slice, and ate it.

I thought I had enough willpower to control my cravings but apparently, I didn’t.

It’s not just with food that my willpower fails me, it is with other things too.

I send out a newsletter every Friday. This Friday, I woke up energized. I had the topic in mind which I have even researched previously. I knew I will be able to pull it off. So I got a bit relaxed and allowed myself to get distracted by other tasks, such as responding to emails, working on a LinkedIn post, and researching for my next book.

The day wore on, and before I realized it, it was 5 pm, my usual newsletter posting time. I started to panic. Despite all my efforts, the words just wouldn’t come. I even tried to find something I had written previously that I could refine and send, but to no avail.

After two hours of frustration, I gave up and turned to mindless entertainment, watching a movie before finally going to sleep.

Once again, my willpower had failed me.

These experiences (and many similar ones before these) pissed me off and I decided to figure out how to make my willpower work for me.

I read everything I could find on the topic including, scientific research and research papers by psychologists on how to cultivate and maintain willpower.

This is what I found.

I will start with the definition.

What is willpower, anyway?

Willpower refers to the ability to resist short-term temptations and override unwanted thoughts, feelings, or impulses in order to achieve long-term goals.

It is conscious, effortful self-regulation and can help overcome procrastination and stay focused despite obstacles.

All of that make willpower a very desirable trait to have.

But, sadly, not everyone has willpower.

If you have achieved a goal or accomplished something worthwhile, you know how hard it was to keep pushing through to get over the line.

Makes you believe some people have strong willpower and others do not.

Incorrect.

Contrary to popular belief, willpower is not an innate trait that you’re either born with or without. Rather it’s a complex mind-body response that can be compromised by stress, sleep deprivation and nutrition and that can be strengthened through certain practices.

Willpower is a lot like stress.

Stress is a reaction to an external threat for example a row with your boss, whereas willpower is a reaction to an internal conflict such as resisting the temptation to smoke or eat unhealthy food.

The need for self-control sets into motion a coordinated set of changes in the brain and body that help you resist temptation and override self-destructive urges.

It’s called the pause-and-plan response and it puts your body into a calmer state and sends extra energy to the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which helps to keep track of goals and override impulses and cravings.

The result is the motivation and mindset needed to achieve what is most important.

But how can I cultivate and maintain willpower?

There are three factors that affect our ability to resist temptations and accomplish what we really want, or need to do.

  1. Stress
  2. Sleep deprivation
  3. Nutrition

Let’s dissect them one by one.

Stress

Chronic stress can make it more difficult to find willpower because the biology of stress and willpower are incompatible.

The fight-or-flight response triggered by stress causes the body to focus on immediate, instinctual actions and detracts from the areas of the brain needed for wise decision-making.

To better manage your stress one of the easiest technique is to take a few deep breaths when you’re feeling overwhelmed or tempted.

Meditation is also an effective way to enhance a range of willpower skills, such as attention, focus, stress management, impulse control, and self-awareness. Meditation changes both the function and structure of the brain to support self-control.

Sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation, can cause chronic stress and impair how the body and brain use energy. The prefrontal cortex, which controls cravings and the stress response, is particularly affected.

Without sufficient sleep, the brain can overreact to stress and temptations. Studies show that the effects of sleep deprivation on the brain are comparable to being intoxicated.

To cultivate and sustain willpower, getting an adequate amount of high-quality sleep is crucial.

Nutrition

Nutrition affects willpower by influencing the availability of energy to the brain.

Eating a plant-based, less-processed diet can make energy more readily available to the brain, thereby improving all aspects of willpower, including overcoming procrastination and sticking to resolutions.

Is willpower a limited resource?

The research in the field of willpower suggests that people who use willpower appear to run out of it, but it is both a limited and renewable resource.

Acts of self-control tap into the same source of strength and deplete willpower for unrelated challenges.

The research also shows that willpower decreases over the course of the day, as your energy gets “spent” on stress and self-control.

This is known as “the muscle model” of willpower. Like your body muscles, the willpower “muscle” can get exhausted from the excessive effort.

To make the most of your willpower, start your day with your hardest task first.

Devote 90–120 minutes to the hardest task of the day when your energy and willpower are at their peak.

How to keep the willpower going?

The most recommended way to keep your willpower going is to change your state.

If you’re sitting down and working on a computer, go for a long walk, take a nap, do some exercise, or do a meditation session.

Your beliefs and attitudes can also keep willpower depletion in check.

People who are driven by their own internal goals and desires are less easily depleted than people who feel compelled to exert self-control to please others.

And the good news is that willpower is never completely exhausted.

We appear to hold some willpower in reserve, conserved for future demands. The right motivation allows us to tap into those reserves, allowing us to persevere even when our self-control strength has run down.

So what changes I have made after learning all this about willpower?

  • I have started doing my hardest task (article writing) first.
  • I have built routines for walking, power napping, and meditating to supplement my willpower all through the day.

What is your experience with your willpower?

What steps will you take to make your willpower work for you?

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Cruising Through The Eighth Wonder Of The World (Part 2)

Neera

It was barely six in the morning, I leisurely opened my eyes, and saw a densely forested hill pass by.

What the heck?

For the past three days, I had seen nothing but water around me. What is this? A mirage in the sea?

But no. The ship’s Communication Director, Steve From Canada (as he called himself) announced on the internal communication system that the ship was passing through the Milford Sound, and if we wanted to have a better view, we should head for deck 15.

I quickly changed and headed there. The deck was already full of people. People were taking photos and making videos as island after island of hills passed by. There was hardly any space to stand by the glass panels surrounding the ship. I found my brother and sister-in-law in the crowd and stood next to them. Together we took in the beauty of the eighth wonder of the world, as called by Rudyard Kipling when he first visited the place in the nineteenth century.

Image by the author

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s top attractions.

The early European settlers named this place ‘Sound’ but they were wrong. Sounds are formed when a river valley is flooded by the sea, whereas Milford Sound was formed by the erosion of ancient glaciers.

Milford Sound is actually a fiord. Full of mountains, waterfalls, passes and valleys, Milford Sound is part of the Fiordland National Park and has a history going back thousands of years. When New Zealand was an unspoiled land of just forest and mountains, rivers, and sea, Māori tribes used to travel there to fish, hunt, and collect precious pounamu (a variety of jade).

In 1823, a sealer called John Grono was the first European settler to visit Milford Sound. Later that century, a Scotsman called Donald Sutherland became Milford Sound’s first permanent resident. Together with his wife, he built the first hotel in Milford Sound, to accommodate the growing number of walkers arriving there on what is now the Milford Track (Source).

We stood there transfixed, watching the lush green hills and markings on the rocks where the waterfall would spring in rainy seasons.

After taking the ship as far as he could, the captain found a cove big enough to turn the ship around. On the way back, we were even more up close to the hills.

Image by the author

Once again, Steve From Canada (the communication director of the ship) announced we will reach the next fjord at 1:00 pm. That was enough time to have a stupendous breakfast at a buffet restaurant and then head for the spa. I was wearing my swimsuit underneath my dress so without missing a beat; I was in the bubbly spa.

Oh! my.

The water was really hot. My aunt and sister-in-law joined me too, and we sat there for longer than an hour. There was no urgency to vacate the place for someone else, as there were six spas and four swimming pools on the same deck.

We had a hefty breakfast earlier, but as we got out of the spa, we spotted an ice cream parlor. All that ice cream was free. You could have ten cones if you wanted, but we limited ourselves to one soft-serve each.

We had barely ingested that when we spotted the Fish and Chips outlet. It served shrimp (prawns) as well. There went my five months of weight loss efforts. “Don’t ask for fish and chips,” said my husband, “Ask for fish and shrimps.” He was right. The chips were not nice, but the shrimps were delicious.

Doubtful Sound

At around 1:00 pm, we reached Doubtful Sound.

Doubtful Sound is the deepest and second-largest fjord in New Zealand. It was named so by Captain Cook because he was doubtful that he would be able to sail his ship back out of the Sound. I stood by the glass panel the whole time, chatting with my niece. We spotted dolphins following the small tourist boats.

We were told to look out for sunbathing seals on Seal Rock, but it was a pretty hot day for sunbathing.

Image by the author

After lunch, the whole party (the eleven of us) found a spot on Deck 6 and played cards. We play a game called Teen Patti (a very famous Indian also called Flash). It is a gambling game, but we played it with counters rather than real money. It is like the British 3-Card Brag game and poker put together. The eleven of us made so much noise that it drowned the annoying voice of the inexperienced Bingo host.

Theatre Two70 — Image by the author

Dusky Sound

While we were playing cards, the ship sailed by Dusky Sound. But no one bothered to go to the deck this time. We took some photos and got on with our card game.

Dusky Sound was named by Captain Cook as well when he sailed by the area at dusk on his first voyage in 1770. It is almost 25 miles long and is the largest fjord in New Zealand. During the rainy seasons, hundreds of waterfalls splash down from the verdant green hill into the dark deep waters.

Image by the author

Tonight was the first formal dinner night. Thankfully, my husband who was threatening to appear in shorts wore his jacket and had a photo with me.

After dinner, we headed for the dance hall called Two70 (for it gives a 270-degree view of the sea) to try our luck to sneak into a cabaret show. The previous day’s show was canceled because the ship was too bumpy. All those who book were transferred to today. But the doors were to open as soon as the show started and anyone could attend if you could find an empty seat or didn’t mind standing at the back, you could.

We were first in the line to sneak in as soon as the doors opened. With our luck, we got the seats as well, that too near the entry and exit of dancers.

The show was not what I expected (nothing can beat Bollywood actress Helen’s cabaret), but I enjoyed watching the dancer from close by as they entered and exited from where we were sitting.

Immediately after the cabaret, we head for the Royal Theatre to watch an R-Rated comedy show. The Royal Theatre had a capacity of 1000.

Having done all the hot stuff in the day, we went to bed to get up early the next day for our first port — Dunedin.

I will write about that in my next post.

Simplification vs optimization

Neera

In his book “How To Fail At Everything And Still Win Big,” Adam Scott, the creator of Dilbert comics, distinguishes people into two categories: simplifiers and optimizers.

Simplifiers choose the easiest way to accomplish a task, even if some extra effort might have produced a better outcome. In contrast, optimizers search for the very best solution, even if the added complexity increases the chances of unexpected problems.

Adam describes himself as a simplifier, while he thinks his wife is a world-class optimizer. To illustrate his point, he tells a story of how his wife added ten tasks to be done on the way to a simple dinner at a nearby restaurant, followed by a movie. They end up being late for dinner and missing the movie (although this is an exaggeration to make the point).

I must admit I have been an optimizer all my life, finishing ten tasks before leaving the house for a social event, which makes us late every time and annoys my husband.

However, optimizing can be exhausting and stress-inducing. On the other hand, simplification frees up time and energy, making everything else a little bit easier.

Simplification is generally the strategy of people who view the world in terms of systems. Simple systems are usually better because complicated systems have more opportunities for failure. Human nature is such that we are good at following simple systems and not so good at following complicated systems. The most optimized diet plan or fitness plan will also be the most complicated. But a few people have enough willpower in reserve to follow complicated plans.

Simplification is often the difference between doing something you know you should do and keep putting it off. You don’t mind brushing your teeth because it is simple. But you keep putting off flossing them because it is tedious. That’s why dentists often suggest flossing one tooth. That sounds simple and you don’t mind starting. But of course, when you start,t you end up doing all.

After reading Adam Scott’s book, I have started simplifying things in my life. I have shrunk my daily “To Do” list to only two items a day. My whole focus now is to do them. Everything else can wait. If they get done, fine. Otherwise, they will get done eventually. Someday. And even if they don’t, no big deal.

In my quest to manage my weight, I have tried several diets and Weight Watchers plans. But I didn’t stick with any. They were too complicated. But since I started Intermittent Fasting sticking, it is no problem. I have my dinner before eight pm and breakfast at mid-day. There is no need to count calories or watch what I eat. Over time, my body has gotten used to tolerating hunger, and I am not putting everything tempting I see into my mouth.

As far as writing is concerned, I have limited myself to writing 1000 words a day. That too in four 15-minute intervals. And I time myself. As soon as they are done, I am free to do whatever I want to do.

The same goes for sketching. I intentionally don’t include any background in Ms. Jolly’s cartoons. It is a huge timesaver, and I can create them in under one hour. I don’t think people expect much from my cartoons other than it brings a bit of lightness to my message.

My newsletter, too, has simplified over the years. I started with writing industry news, training module, homework, and whatnot. But I have learned what people like the most is the main story. And that is the bit I enjoy writing the most. So most of the newsletter issues are vanilla versions. Now and then, if I have time, I add a bit of sprinkle to it in the form of a book or other newsletter recommendations.

I have simplified my exercise routine as well. Gym class at seven thirty am and walking at four pm five days a week. There are no ifs, buts, or thinking involved.

If the cost of failure is high, simple tasks are the best because they are easier to manage and control. Once you have success, optimizing begins to have more value. I have a simple strategy to write books – I write the first draft in ten days. If the idea is not good, I will know within a few days. I then drop it and move on to the next one.

If your day is full of ‘things to do,’ and you are stressed all the time, simplification might be just what you need.

You may not have the option of choosing simplicity, especially if you have a thousand things to complete in a day. But it’s a good idea to have an overarching plan to move towards simple systems as opportunities allow.

You can chip away at the complexity of your life over time. Simplicity is a worthy long-term goal. That’s how you will free your personal energy so you can concentrate it where you need it.

A Single Habit That Helped Me Write Four Books, 500+ Articles And Over A Million Words

Neera

500+ Articles And Over A Million Words

It’s my simple habit of writing a journal every day.

I wake up at six am, brush my teeth, and then crawl back into bed with my favorite pen and journal in hand. For twenty to thirty minutes, I write uninterrupted.

When I was working full-time, I didn’t have the luxury of journaling every day. Instead, I would try to write for 15 minutes on weekend mornings. I cherished that time with my journal so much that I started looking for spare moments during the day to jot down my thoughts.

Those moments became precious to me. They helped me process my thoughts, connect with my emotions, and gain insights from my experiences.

There comes a stage when journaling becomes an obsession.

Since becoming a full-time writer in January 2019, I haven’t missed a single day of journaling. It has become somewhat of an obsession, but it allows me to capture fleeting thoughts before they vanish like a bubble in thin air.

Whether the thoughts are good or bad doesn’t matter. The practice of capturing thoughts makes me aware of them. Now, I keep a notebook handy at all times, no matter where I go in my home. You never know when a good thought will appear, and I don’t want to miss it.

Some might see it as an obsession, but I think of it as a game.

Did I catch it? Yeah! I did.

Oh! What was that I thought of this morning while reading the newspaper? It was something related to…

I can’t even remember what was it related to. Bugger. All I could remember was that it was very exciting. I should have noted it on my phone. Now it is gone. Forever.

The true benefit of journaling lies in the expression of thoughts.

As you fill notebook after notebook, you’ll find that you’re better able to articulate your ideas. This is a moment to be proud of, as few people ever achieve this level of skill in their lifetime. For many, writing is a daunting task, and the mere thought of composing an article, story, or even a letter can be overwhelming.

In my early days of journaling, I wrote with a pencil so I could easily erase and refine my sentences. It took me three years to graduate from pencil to pen, so if you’re writing with a pen, you’re ahead of where I was.

Fluency is the ultimate reward.

Once you’re confident in expressing your thoughts on paper, fluency will come naturally. Soon, you’ll be typing so fast that your fingers hurt because your thoughts are flowing too rapidly to keep up with.

When I reached this stage, I cried. There was a time when I would sit with a pen and paper, unsure of what to write. Now, I have so many ideas and stories to share that I can’t keep up.

As a writer, everything becomes worth writing about. Simple anecdotes hold captivating stories, and mundane details reveal unexpected insights. When you’ve reached this point in your writing, you’re not far from achieving your goals. It might take you years (like it did for me), or it could happen in just a few months, but when it does, you’ll have discovered the joy and satisfaction that comes from writing.

The result of fluency in writing is a wealth of material.

At this point, you will have accumulated a substantial amount of material that can be turned into articles, stories, and even books. You can either pull content from your journals or start anew.

However, it’s important to note that your thoughts and perspectives may have evolved over time, so re-writing a piece can be more beneficial than digging up something from years ago. With your newfound expression of thought and writing fluency, you have a better chance of producing a high-quality piece.

But, don’t dispose of your journals just yet. They contain a part of you and serve as a reminder of the challenges you faced in the past and how you overcame them. I personally find inspiration in my old journals and use them to generate stories and ideas for my work.

So, how can you take your journal writing habit to the next level?

For me, reflective prompts have been instrumental in unlocking my creativity and critical thinking skills.

They help me explore my thoughts and emotions, and provide me with fresh insights and perspectives for my writing.

Here are some reflective prompts to try:

  1. What were the most significant events or moments of my day, and how did they impact me emotionally, physically, or mentally?
  2. What did I learn today, and how can I apply that knowledge to improve my life or help others?
  3. What are the most pressing challenges I am currently facing, and how can I overcome them?
  4. What are my goals for the day, week, or month, and how can I make progress towards achieving them?
  5. What are my strengths, and how can I leverage them to achieve my goals and help others?
  6. What are my weaknesses, and how can I work on improving them to become a better version of myself?
  7. What are my values, and how can I align my actions with those values to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life?
  8. What are the most significant lessons I have learned in life, and how have they impacted me or helped me grow as a person?
  9. What are the things that bring me joy and fulfillment, and how can I incorporate more of them into my daily life?
  10. What are my biggest fears or insecurities, and how can I work on overcoming them to live a more confident and fulfilling life?
  11. How have I grown and changed as a person in the past year, and what experiences or challenges contributed to that growth?
  12. What are some habits or routines that have had a positive impact on my life, and how can I continue to cultivate those habits?
  13. What are some patterns or behaviors that have held me back, and how can I work on breaking those patterns to move forward?
  14. What are some things I am grateful for in my life, what are the various ways I can pay forward.
  15. What are some obstacles I have overcome in the past, and how can I use those experiences to build resilience and strength for future challenges?
  16. What are my relationsip with others are like and how can I improve them?
  17. What are some things I am passionate about, and how can I use that passion to make a positive impact in the world?
  18. What self-care needs I am ignoring at the moment and how can I prioritize my well-being to live a more balanced life?
  19. How can better handle the current situation? What coping mechanisms can I use to manage these challenges in a healthy way?
  20. What are some goals or dreams that I have been putting off, and what steps can I take to make progress toward them, today?

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A Little Journal That Changed My Life

Neera

Years ago, I came across the idea of keeping a gratitude journal.

Dutifully, I bought a small spiral notebook and started writing three things I was grateful for

They were not big things, but little things like the yellow rose in my garden, the air-conditioning in my car, and a new pair of shoes that were sleek and comfortable.

That practice didn’t last for long.

I stopped and started several times.

Years later, when I was going through a bad patch in life, I stumbled upon the spiral notebook while going through my closet.

Rather than chucking the partially filled notebook into the bin, I opened it and started reading the entries.

Half an hour later, I was sitting on the floor, leaned against the closet, tears rolling down my eyes.

There were so many good things that happened in my life, and here I was agonizing over the little stuff.

Rather than feeling like a victim of fate, I saw how many blessings it had bestowed on me.

A gratitude journal may not seem a big thing while you are writing it, but over time, it becomes a powerful reminder of all the good things that happen to you.

I still don’t write in the journal every day. But it has got a permanent place on my bedside table and now and then, I pick it up, and jot down the three things I am grateful for.

Image by the author

If you haven’t got a gratitude journal, I strongly urge you to start one.

It will change your life.

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