A Copywriter’s Journey to Moving Forward
If spinning one’s wheels were a sport, I’d be a pro athlete.
For years, that was me—stuck in a cycle of wanting to write full-time, but never quite making it happen.
I was motivated to become a copywriter and author because I could choose my own projects, I’d have the freedom to work anywhere, and I would be my own boss.
However, imposter syndrome got the better of me. I felt I wasn’t good enough, and that my work had to be perfect. I didn’t intend to procrastinate, but fear of failure and uncertainty about the next steps led to avoidance.
Then, I would convince myself that I was finally ready to be proactive, but nothing came of it.
I wasn’t doing the important things like writing or advancing my career.
I didn’t know what was holding me back. Spoiler alert: It was me. I was the one getting in my own way.
Have you ever felt this way? That rollercoaster of starting and stopping is exhausting, isn’t it?
It took me years to realize that if I wanted to break free, I needed a strategy. Here’s what I’ve learned…
STRATEGIES TO STOP SPINNING AND START DOING
- Goals
- Set specific, achievable goals that will move you forward. Think SMART goals–specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
- Break down larger goals into smaller tasks, and put them in your calendar, planner, or to-do list.
- Make a commitment to get things done and show up for your dream. Your future self will be grateful that you did.
- Action
- Small, consistent actions build momentum and fuel your confidence.
- Find out what works and what doesn’t. Experiment with different routines to see what helps you stay focused. If your routine no longer serves you, change it up. For example, for writers, if it gets too noisy working at a coffee shop, try the library.
- Keep moving forward to get yourself closer to your bright, beautiful future.
- Mindset
- Please (!) practice self-compassion and forgiveness. If we can be supportive of complete strangers on social media, we can certainly cheer ourselves on, right?!
- Start before your’re “ready,” and embrace imperfection. You don’t have to have all your ducks in a row. Perfectionism only delays progress, so give yourself permission to make mistakes. Done is better than perfect.
- Celebrate wins, big and small.
- Energy
- Staying energized is about physical health and mental clarity, and important for sustaining long-term progress. This is especially important for those of us over 50.
- Eat, exercise, and sleep well–staying healthy keeps your energy levels up.
- Take time for creative breaks. They’re essential to avoiding burnout and for refreshing your focus.
- Support
- It’s easy to feel like we’re going it alone, but we’re not. Share your goals with trusted family, friends, and/or mentors.
- Join accountability groups to stay motivated.
- Attend conferences and networking events to find your group.
I wasn’t planning on creating an acronym (seriously!), but…
Goals + Action + Mindset + Energy + Support
Since it spells GAMES, make it an adventure, make it FUN! Try a different challenge, solve a puzzle, or complete a quest so you can…
Thank you for reading to the end. Before Part 2, why not take the first small step toward your goals today?
In Part 2, I’ll dive deeper into the specific actions that helped me overcome procrastination and start seeing real progress.