I finally did it!  My book is finished!  I wanted to take a second and share 5 steps to push past your inner critic (And let me tell ya, she was loud) that helped me get my book done.  

I’ve been thinking about writing this book for almost two years now.  The actual writing part was finished this winter but I let myself listen to that inner critic.  Telling me no one will read it, no one will like it, I don’t know what I’m talking about.  ALL the things!

Maybe some of those things will be true but I know that I have the experience, we all do, to write about our own experiences, what has helped us and how that might help someone else in a similar situation.

The actual writing of the book and editing is done.  Currently, it is heading to formatting and cover design.  I set a date near the end of September 2020 to launch!

I wrote this book with y’all in mind.  

As well as those just getting started or thinking about getting started with pipeline travel.  I hope I did ya proud!!  I know I didn’t cover everything but I wanted this book to focus on the beginning of the journey.

It was hard at times, to remember how I felt in certain situations.  Trying to remember all the questions I had, the places we had been (and when), sharing some of the stories.  But it felt right.  It felt like there might be someone out there that needs to hear our story, to get an idea of what it is like to travel with the pipeline or to know that they are not in it alone.

Because it was a journey to get to this point and through the writing, I wanted to share with you…

The 5 steps to push past your inner critic that helped me were;

Making a plan

It can be as simple as writing down the things you want to say.  Mindmapping, brainstorming, or anything else you want to call it.  Get the ideas out of your head and on to a piece of paper, Google docs, or any way else you want to write.  Set a timer, get your sh*t together, and GO!

Put together not only your thoughts for what you want to share but also ideas on how you want to organize it.  Think back to when you were in school and they taught you to create sections for writing.  Get your intro started, your chapter ideas, and your closing thoughts.

Taking action

After you’ve spent some time really thinking about what it is you want to share, take some time to actually do the writing.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  Put whatever comes to mind, put it in your notes.  Then you can take some time to edit and make adjustments to how you want it to flow.

Creating affirmations

Another huge help in pushing past my inner critic was creating affirmations.  Just the act of thinking about what you want to accomplish is helpful.  Then when you put them into your daily habit and repeat those affirmations.  Say them out loud!  Put them ALL over your camper, phone, house, whatever.  Use sticky notes and put them where you will see them and when you see them, say them proud!  

Making it a priority

How many good ideas have you had only to forget about them?  Scheduling them into your day makes those ideas a priority.  It took me a long time to see this one.  I always considered myself as a person that preferred to not have a schedule but so many things slip through the cracks when they are not noted.

Blocking out time in my schedule to focus on the writing helped, to make it a habit.  I do this with so many things including break periods.  It helps me to see where I’m spending my time and where I can add something else.  I use a combination of my phone calendar and a physical planner (click here for my favorite planner) to help track my days.  Below is a screenshot of my calendar when I was in the thick of things.

Be consistent

This one ties into Making it a priority as well.  In order to make a habit, you have to stay consistent.  That may mean setting it up at the same time/day.  It may mean setting a set time period.  Consistency also means that if you miss a day, you pick right back up.  Don’t go down that rabbit hole where you find every excuse because you missed one time.

If your interested in more info on creating or resetting a routine, read here.

There you have it, 5 steps to push past your inner critic.  

• Making a plan
• Taking action
• Affirmations
• Making it a priority
• Be consistent

These steps can be applied to just about anything you are trying to achieve or when you feel that self-doubt creeping up.

My book was a big hurdle but I’m so glad I was able to get it done.  What hurdles are you ready to cross off your list?

My hope for this book is that it will help future pipeline families.  I hope it resonates with those of us in the middle of it and I hope that it inspires you to go after your dreams.

I’m building my launch team and would love for you to be on it! 

If you are interested in reading this book and helping spread the word, please reach out below or send me an email at travelingwivesclub@gmail.com.

Can anyone relate to falling out of your routine after traveling?

These last few weeks have been CRAZY for our family!  And it has wreaked havoc on any type of schedule we have managed to assemble prior!  This has left me feeling all kinds of out of sorts and not accomplishing anything!

I am in desperate need of strategies to reset a routine and stick to it!  Who’s with me?!!

Story time

My parents celebrated 50 years (Woohoo!!!) and we (my 2 brothers, myself and our families) decided to throw them a party back in our home state.

Most of the to do list involved internet searches and lining up some vendors.  Not too much to undertake while living out of state but our home is still pretty new to us and the basement looked like a storage facility for plastic totes and cardboard boxes.

So, the kids and I headed home about 2 weeks before the party.  We were having some renovations done to the home and needed to check in on that process.  We’ve had some bad experiences in the past in other states so we just needed to make sure everyone was on the same page.

Prior to leaving I was all in on a workout program, 6 days a week.  The kids were getting settled in to a routine back in the trailer and we were starting to find some fun activities in the area.

The problem

It only took me about 2 days to get off track on my workouts.  (Need ideas for working out while on the road?  Check this post out!). Just seemed like there was SOOO much to get done each day.  Plus, once I started on our project that gave me a bit of a workout!

The first week home involved making sure things were going smoothly with renovations, getting readjusted to our home and getting some supplies.

Second week my Dad and I took on a project in the basement to get that storage facility under control! It involved building a room around our mechanicals and shelves to hold ALL those totes.  I have to say it felt so good to be working on that, especially since it was a surprise for my husband.

The secret was out (almost)!

The kids almost spilled the secret on FaceTime though!  Luckily, Grandma was nearby to intercept.

During those two weeks the focus was on getting the house prepped for the party and completing so much so that I didn’t really get much else accomplished.  The kids’ routine was off, I stopped writing and as usual, I fall in to some bad eating/snacking habits.

These habits, or lack of, lasted for the entire time we were gone and for a bit back at the trailer too.  It finally hit me what I needed to do to change things and get back to a routine again.

Of course, true to this traveling life, it will all change in another few weeks.  Story of our lives, right?!

How to reset a routine and stick to it…

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” -Tony Robbins

Assess your current routine

Sometimes it is just nice to take a break/change routine

Sometimes, we just need that interruption to help us refocus and get back on track.  The break can be as short as a few hours or as long as several days.  Whatever the duration, sometimes it is just nice to get that break from a long standing routine.

Acknowledge what isn’t working

Often times we don’t stick to our routines because there is something in there that is just not working for us anymore.  Maybe it is your wake up/bedtime.  Are you trying to do something that just doesn’t interest you anymore?

Whatever it may be, take a minute to think about the differences in your routines and what felt good to you in each of them.

Make a list of what needs to get done

Think about your perfect day.  What is involved in that day?  Do you sleep in?  When do you exercise, first thing or save it for later?  Do you make time for a hobby?  What tasks do you have to do on a daily basis?

Make a list of all the things that would make up your perfect day.  Then find a way to make it happen!

Focus on what is important to you

Knowing this information can help you set up a great routine.  Setting your day up with plenty of rest, movement, to do list items and fun things is a great way to help you stick to your routine.

What is important to us can change often.  Take time to look at what things are important and how to incorporate or keep them in your life.

You may have to reset a routine often

Obviously with our traveling routine there has to be some built in flexibility.  This can certainly cause some anxiety and chaos.  I could either not do any type of routine because it is changing SO often OR I can embrace the change and take that time to restructure/refine my routine with each new move or disruption.

Staying on track when you reset a routine

Put sticky notes out/phone reminders

Put your routine where you can see it.  Whether it is on a bunch of sticky notes or just on a sheet of paper, have it somewhere visible so you see it several times a day.

Use a journal if that is more your style.  Take time to write out your schedule in your journal and then make sure you reference it often.  The Happy Planner is one of my favorites because you can customize it to your liking!!

Set alarms on your phone when it is time to change activities.  If you are constantly checking your phone throughout the day, this may be a great option for you!  Getting those little chimes can help direct your attention to whatever task you have assigned for yourself.

Note:  If you are someone that can tune out your notifications on your phone this may not be best option.

Keep a set bedtime/wake up

Set your wake and bedtimes so that you get enough rest.  We often underestimate our bodies need for sleep, pushing ourselves until we are exhausted.

Establishing a regular wake up and bedtime helps your body regulate.  I know I am guilty of this!  Thinking I don’t have enough time to get everything done so I stay up later.  In all honesty though, it is not that I don’t have enough time, it’s that my time management sucks!

Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up, just pick up where you left off

We are humans, not robots. If you have a slip, acknowledge it and then get back on track.  If it keeps occurring, take a look at that schedule.

Is there something that needs to change?  Are you forcing yourself to do something that is not enjoyable?

Is there a way to reframe your thoughts about that task?  There will be times that we have to do something that we just don’t want or enjoy so, looking at how you think about that task may help you get through it.  If it is still a struggle, maybe it is just not the right time.  See if you can have someone else take it on for now or if you can tackle it at another point in time.

Accountability – share it with someone you know

Don’t underestimate the power of accountability.  It is nice to know someone else has your back and give you that friendly reminder of goals you have set.  Make sure you pick someone that will help you stay on track and not help derail you!

However you decide to reset a routine for yourself just remember that it is meant to be adjusted.  I know I could not maintain the exact same routine my entire life.  There are too many changes as we grow!  We need to adjust as we grow physically, mentally and professionally.

Make some space to make a plan for you and/or your family.  If you need some ideas feel free to reach out to friends, family, myself or our best pal, Pinterest!

As always, thanks for reading!

–Katie