My bike in TexasMy bike, a Honda Shadow 1100, weighs about 550 pounds. While that may sound like a lot, when I’m moving, it’s really not that heavy. The size is nice out on the highway when I’m cruising along. Still, when it’s been a while since I’ve been in the seat or when I’m tired, I feel all of that weight.

I haven’t ridden in a while. However, one of the last times I was out, I noticed myself looking down when I should have been looking out level with the horizon, and I also noticed that I was looking at people or things longer than usual as I passed them instead of looking in the direction I wanted to go. Now, it wasn’t like I was all over the road, but just for a second or so my gaze wasn’t 100% focused.

One of the first things instructors teach you in Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes is to look in the direction you want to go. It makes so much difference. Sharp turns that once seemed impossible at a pretty good clip, are now easily accomplished simply by looking through the turn.

Look in the direction you want to go.
This is good advice — not only for riding motorcycles, but also for other areas of life too.

Duh. That’s obvious. Well how come we have so many problems with it?

I think more productive people train themselves — their mind and bodies — to be focused in the direction they want to go.

Right now, I’m focused on writing. I really do know–when I write every day, it’s easier to keep the momentum going–even if I have to keep reminding myself.

And, here’s another bike example: in times of stress, I think muscle memory can kick in. That is, daily safe operating habits work to compensate for times of high stress. For example, hitting a wet spot in the road could have a really different outcome, if, every day the rider didn’t let the clutch out smoothly. If the rider is poorly disciplined and pops the clutch all the time, then his habits are sloppy and might not see him safely through unfavorable road conditions.

It’s the same off the bike. I think we can practice being more productive, successful, kind, or whatever. Then, each day we get better and better at living our lives and managing the things that can stress us out.

I certainly don’t have things all figured out, but I was thinking of my practice, my bike and more favorable operating conditions.

When I started out riding, I spent a lot of time in an empty parking lot practicing stopping and starting and doing endless figure 8s, cutting the corners sharper and sharper.

What to do as a writer? Write every day and pay attention to your work habits every day.

From Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker, Ed.D.

You begin by learning to pay attention to yourself as a writer, by writing at every possible stage of your work process. You’ll note each day how your work has gone: how it felt, what you did and didn’t accomplish; you’ll ask yourself, in an internal dialogue that you record, what you think might have gotten in your way, what nagging question you’ve been trying to ignore, what you need to work on next, and how you might have to change your work space, whether you like or hate your topic on this particular day. You will take your own work habits as seriously as you take the material you’re working on, and you will scrutinize them frequently to see if they need revamping. (7)

Easily said. Harder done. But you can do it! I can do it! We can get where we need to be.

Where am I going to be?

One place I know I’ll be is at Missouri Western. They liked me so much the first time that they’ve invited me to come again. (G) This visit will have a little bit of a twist. On day 1, I’ll be facilitating a discussion among teachers, administrators, and network admins about blogging. On day 2, I’ll be blogging with some high school students. Sounds like fun!

Ok, back to my paper.