Enjoy Enriching Hobbies

Last time I began a three part look at what to do to get through dry times in your writing. Today I want to focus on the importance of engaging in some enriching hobbies. Eclipsing the sole motivation of improving your writing, hobbies are vital for personal health. One thing that all high-impact people recognize is the need to live a balanced life, and developing and enjoying a hobby or two is a key part of that equation.

One of my weekly hobbies is weight-lifting. Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted to lift weights. I have been a bit of a gym rat for 15 years, and I am probably more addicted to it than ever. Three times a week or more I head over to Fit For Life to work off some of the stresses of the day and to push my body to its limits. Every time I leave, I walk out those doors with sharpened mental focus, increased energy and a renewed confidence for the next task that comes my way. (If you are looking to add physical fitness to your schedule, call Fit For Life and ask for King Hoover. You'll not find a better health architect!)

Two of my favorite seasonal hobbies are deer and duck hunting. I love escaping the maddening grip of the city to soak up the sounds and smells of nature. Add to that the fellowship of lifelong friends and family, along with the thrill of the hunt, and you can begin to see why I love November. Just a few weeks ago, I got together with my Dad, a couple cousins and two of my closest friends on this planet. In addition to having a side-splitting good time, I managed to bring this guy home on Saturday...


...And this guy on Sunday!

(Yes, that's a 7 point followed by an 8 point!)

I realize this probably is not for everyone, so here's your chance to provide some other examples. What hobbies do you engage in to reset your mental balance?

The Sabbatical is Over!

After a month off, I've finally stored up enough thoughts to be able to post on a fairly regular schedule. As most of us have experienced, writing has its rich times as well as its dry times. Times come when the words seem to flow like rivers; at other times nothing even remotely interesting comes to mind. And let's be honest, few things are more discouraging than knowingly writing a dull blog.

So, what do you do when the compositional gears of the mind are stuck in neutral? Three things have helped me through this recent valley: 1) Read good stuff, 2) Enjoy enriching hobbies, and 3) Take some time off.

To reinforce the application of these three tips, I'm going to spend the remainder of this post and the next two highlighting how I practice each principle.

Read Good Stuff

Most who like to write also have a love of reading, a fortunate connection. Reading restores the verbal well and stretches the mental muscles. If you are always putting out but never taking in, you'll soon run dry! One key to get the most "bang for the buck" in your reading is to diversify your consumption. Read different topics and different authors. The broader your reading list, the deeper your writing.

If you do not know where to start, here's 5 must reads:

1. Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels

2. Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds

3. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory

4. Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels

5. From Every People and Nation by J. Daniel Hays

What about you? What books do you recommend?