If I had a dime for every time I heard some guru online comment about growth not happening in your comfort zone . . .

And I bet you feel the same way.

But when you want to write a book, sometimes it’s tough to change the habits you need to change to make it happen. And we do get stuck in our comfort zones, especially if you aren’t a “writer” by trade or passion.

That comfort zone can be pretty cozy, especially because, for someone who wants to write a book, it can mean yoga or pajama pants, a bowl of popcorn, and binge watching something on Netflix to unwind or block out the day. Sounds pretty good right now, doesn’t it?

You know what, though? You can take your pajama-clad behind over to your kitchen table or a desk chair and work on your book while eating that popcorn. That’s two out of three!

The truth is, if you want something different in your life, you have to step out of your comfort zone. You have to push your boundaries and break out of the routine. Better yet, you have to develop a new routine that includes writing.

Doing something different, like writing a book, can feel pretty risky, though. You might feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, like you might be judged, or like you’re wasting your time because you aren’t sure what to do with the book once you’re done. This can be overwhelming, and it can even derail the writing process.

So let’s look at some things we can do to set you up for success and get you out of your own way. Let’s actually write that book!

1. Think about why you’ve been avoiding writing. Yes, the first step really is acknowledging the problem. But it doesn’t have to be a problem anymore! Maybe you have some negative thoughts about who is or isn’t a writer. Maybe you have fears. Maybe you are “busy” all the time . . . but not THAT busy. Take some time to think about what’s keeping you from just sitting down at the computer and tapping away at the keyboard.
2. Develop a new routine. If you have a habit of filling every free moment you have, then look at where you could actually squeeze in something productive like writing a book. If you spend the last 20 minutes before bed scrolling through Facebook, then you could use that time to write. If you usually eat lunch by yourself, then you could eat while writing. If you wait in the car to pick your kids up, then you could write in a notebook or on your laptop. The possibilities are endless. And it only has to be a temporary change. Allow 3 months or 6 months or whatever you are comfortable with to finish the book.
3. Accomplish something you haven’t. If you write one chapter, and you’ve never written a chapter before, you will increase your self-esteem. Once you see that you can do it, then you know you can do it again and again. That makes writing familiar territory. That makes it—gasp—part of your comfort zone.

Once you expand that comfort zone to include writing, you’ll want to keep it up. And guess what that means? You’ll finish your book!