Tip 11: Trick or treat?

Treat yourself for Halloween and help build better writing habits by going quirky

Greetings fearless writing friend,

It’s the eve of All Hallow’s Eve, so this week’s tip has to be either trick or treat.

While punishing yourself can work in the short term - treats are a better strategy to keep going. Why? Because feeling good about your writing is a powerful motivator especially when things get tough. 

Find a treat that works for you

Treats can be very quirky. For every writer who loves a ginger nut dipped a cup of Earl Grey there’s another one who’d rather pull on their rubber gloves and scrub the the kitchen sink. I’m not judging.

What do you consider a treat?

Often we think of food and drink, but expand your senses - it might be a scented candle, a bunch of flowers or a bubble bath. You might like reading, doing a puzzle, watching a funny video on TikTok, calling a friend or going for a walk or a run. 

I sometimes use my procrastination activities as treats - Instagram AFTER writing and not before. 

How to find your perfect treat

Write a list of treats, big and small - and don’t hold back. Go wild and as quirky as you dare to be.

Then, treat yourself! Save those that take time or money for when you hit a milestone. For now, focus on the really small things you can do to reward your writing practice, boost your mood and associate a pop of pleasure every time you write. 

As the writer Gretchen Rubin said:

Treats may sound like a self-indulgent, frivolous strategy, but it’s not. Because forming good habits can be draining, treats can play an important role. 

When we give ourselves treats, we feel energised, cared for, and contented, which boosts our self-command—and self-command helps us maintain our healthy habits.

We’d love to hear what treats you use, tell us in the comments and we’ll confess some of our quirks. 

Keep writing and a happy Halloween, Bec