Motivation Do it Anyway

[@lissamatthews]

Thank you. I needed this. I'm chronically sleep deprived, exhausted, and in pain. And I haven't been doing it anyway... So, thank you for this.

[@heatherpaul7973]

Thank you Chris!! I really needed the pep talk. I get so overwhelmed now and I found that taking micro steps adds up. hugs to you and your family!!!

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

If you need anything at all please let us know. I mean that. =)

[@heatherpaul7973]

Chris Fox at the moment I am doing good. Focused on moving back home then I will hit you up on info.

[@Telluwide]

I miss those old intros, especially the music. It was good to start the mornings with...

[@Carlos101010101]

I can't think of a better 'Why.' God Bless you for putting your child first.

[@akcaggiano]

This was really motivating but also really sweet. I don't have a baby, but still found excuses this last week while we moved houses to not write. That changes today!

[@authorlaylaholt5688]

I love your motivation videos. I'm tired today...but I'll do it anyway. Thanks Chris, please keep doing these videos. They're a life, sanity saver.

[@davidryan6948]

You have no idea how much your videos have affected & inspired me, Chris, and this one is no different. Far from rambling, I found this one to be one of your most powerful due to its raw honesty. Thank you for your authenticity! I also know your struggle, although my experience was not nearly as recent. My kids are 13 & 17 now and very independent. Cherish this time for all it is (I can tell that you do - we share similar fatherhood motivations). It does seem to fly by! Thank you, again, for all you give to your readers & viewers!

[@sarahlouise01]

Great video (and please keep them coming!) - with excellent advice as usual - thanks Chris!

[@paultaylor4755]

I SO needed to see this video right now. Our baby is 15 months old and I'm really struggling to get writing done. Especially since I'm seeing no movement on my current novels. You're right Chris. I need to do it anyway.

[@jasonstrange1490]

Thanks Chris.

[@yaknkski]

"Do It Anyway", is a great mantra. It's going on my whiteboard. You're kicking ass...keep up the good work!

[@mattkhourie4037]

This type of video shows up every single time I need it. Thanks a million, Chris. Keep up the great work. All the best to your family.

[@gainesdominique]

This is a great video. It's up there with " Time passes anyway"

[@kempfreehold9450]

Thank you, Chris. I have four children, ages ten down to one. I homeschool the oldest two and we just recently moved. I've been lax in the things I need to do as far as writing, despite having two books and a reader magnet that just need final edits. Thanks for the kick in the rear. As a tip, I use my ear bud and listen to podcasts about writing and other topics of interest to myself when I am nursing the baby or attending to household chores . You might be able to do the same...minus the nursing. Lol

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

I tend to use that time more for recharging, and focus on binging good stories in either audiobook or video format. Podcasts have been a morning thing for me, but maybe I should consider changing it up to see how it feels.

[@elsablanchard3297]

I had a baby in 2019, and I never thought I'd be staying up late just to get in some "me" time rather than sleep 🤷‍♀️

[@Katlyn_Duncan]

I feel this so hard! I always get a second wind after kiddo goes down, and I love to just do what I want to do even if it's for a half hour.

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

From 11 to 12 after I hand Kaelen off I can do whatever I want. Sometimes I work, and sometimes I goof off, but it's so nice to get to make a choice about how I spend time. That hour is priceless.

[@elsablanchard3297]

@@Katlyn_Duncan right?! a half hour before bedtime I am WIPED. then once I put the baby to bed and take my shower, I'm like "Where's the party?".then the next morning I have SO many regrets :D

[@Katlyn_Duncan]

@@elsablanchard3297 hahah SO many

[@dalemaki7603]

I just wanted to say thank for your writing series those books help me so much I just got my first book published! Oh and welcome to fatherhood 😊

[@ihath]

I just wrote a long rambling blog post on motivation. The question "how to get motivated?" has been on a mind. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@TerryeToombs]

Boy, I felt this to my core. Being a mom to a special needs now teenager, my schedule is different day to day. I try to squeeze in the writing whenever I can. I know it's a long game and there are many days I have to remind myself (through the stress, frustration and sleep deprivation) that every little bit will eventually add up to something bigger. And, like you, I'm doing it for my son.

[@antonvann3407]

Just when I think Social is the place where discipline goes to die, I watch this inspiring video and feel all conflicted... seeing as without SM I would never have got the shot in the arm I needed. Anyways, Chris, thank you. I'm looking at the businesses I run, my wife and three kids and new puppy and still think I can do the writing thing, thanks to you:) Good luck with it all! (Even though we've plainly established luck has nothing to do with it!)

[@TiagoSantos-ty4rr]

Thank you Chris. This video helped me a lot, really.

[@sarakat3707]

I had baby 2 in June. It has been such a game changer. The 4yr old never sleeps at the same time as the 3 month old. We get like 4 hours of sleep at night too. I can't get a good block of writing in either, I'm exhausted by 11am and my hubby comes home at 4:30pm and then I head into my "day job". I've been sneaking in 5 minite sprints but I'm just so exhausted. Progress is progress though.

[@AlwaysImproving1]

Hi, Chris love your channel! Have you thought about outsourcing more? Surely you could buy yourself more time to sleep if you did? Outsource things like the ad creation? Sorry if you've already looked into this, I know you're a smart guy. I find that sometimes when I'm exhausted I can't see the wood for the trees. Upwork is the website I use to find freelancers (you've probably heard of that) I respect you so much and when I see you so tired I just want to do something to help. I always try and remember Stress + Rest = Growth and know if I don't sleep I'm nowhere near as effective. All the best!!

[@TheWriteNowMom]

Definitely a kick to the rear end, lol. As a homeschooling mom of two, I often feel like I'm pulled in fifty different directions and usually it's my writing that gets pushed to the side. By the time I have the chance to write, all I wanna do is relax and play ESO or watch TV. But when I do that, it's always guilt-filled because I haven't done the one thing that I want/should do, so there's just not as much enjoyment in it. Despite waking up early in the morning being like pulling teeth for me, I think I'm just gonna have to readjust all of our schedules so that I can get my writing in first thing since it's become obvious that I don't have the mentality to write at night anymore unless there's a live-stream write in going on. Thanks for the tough love!

[@ethangoodman893]

You've inspired me so much Chris! Thanks so much for creating these videos.

[@notraxxful]

Great video! A fellow JMTer. I had no idea. Man, I remember just sleeping 12 hours a day and getting up at the edge of these little lakes and climbing over passes. What a blast! Also, seeing the stars on the top of Whitney was a highlight. I'm glad you've been able to find a new balance. Get on the notify me list on Rogue and buy as soon as they have plates in stock. Since you power lift, you probably don't need bumpers. The child thing gets harder, but then it gets easier. You just have to get to the 3-4 years of age and they tend to chill a bit. Of course, if you have another one...

[@RenzorTheRed]

You're crushing it, dude. Amazing. Man, I lost so much momentum this year compared to my production in the last 3. It's been a crappy, weird year. Trying to get back in the saddle.

[@binaryspartan3261]

As someone that has pushed their sleep deprivations to the very edge for a long while (coming from poverty is a huge motivating factor) I learned to try to enhance the quality of sleep I did get. Dosing with melatonin and ZMA a half hour before sleep helped significantly, especially when lifting heavy. Traditionally, I've been a high protein, low carb diet, but timing actually matters for energy and mental function (at least for me), putting my complex carb consumption 45-60 minutes before a heavy workout or heavily taxing creative endeavor has worked wonders. Everyone is different, just tossing out what helped get me through the college athletics/double major endeavor as well as the same sort of software developer horror show (though I'm on the backoffice enterprise data side). Rest well!

[@michaelcain9324]

Damn, man. 12 books in one year. You rock!

[@carriebartkowiak]

I'm curious if you've *tried* a short power nap on those mid-day stretches when you're really exhausted. For me, they can really help and keep me from being brain-dead mid-day and speaking in zombie grunts by the time late evening rolls around.

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

I have! Some days I can't make it any further, so I throw on some meditation music and crash for 40 minutes, then get back to work. I have a recliner in my office, which is nice.

[@zachbutler7107]

Hey Chris! Love your videos and have been a long-time fan. As a powerlifter myself, I'm curious to hear what your routine is? Stay strong and healthy, my friend!

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

For six months it's been deteriorate and wish I had weights haha. When I'm lifting I follow a modified version of the Texas Method. I skip clean and jerk. Too many injuries. I began with Starting Strength, which I cannot say enough good things about. I add curls, and a few other random exercises.

[@gainesdominique]

Excellent video 😊

[@originalgenious5264]

I kinda hit on this yesterday. I was tired of work and all sorts of bullshit. I vented on a writing stream when the streamer just set up a sprint and told me to do one sentence. I struggled with that sentence and suddenly hit something. I only got a few hundred words in but it was more than the zero I was gonna do today. This is on a MUCH smaller scale, but I'm definitely seeing how people just push through tiredness and exhaustion to get a few words down anyway.

[@philwallace5359]

Chris I appreciate your videos. During the COVID lockdown I finished an 800 page book I started and put down in 1999 it’s an epic sci-fi that merges into fantasy then goes back to sci-fi.. I am doing a 3rd hard edit on it and it’s fruitful. I will have reached the full capacity of my ability editing and need a professional editor. I am also interested in how to get cover art. Can you do in depth videos on these questions, start to finish. How to find an editor and artist. What is the cost. Who is credible and has integrity. How to get an artist to offer several covers to choose from. What formats should these be in. Once you buy the cover art can you use it for other venues such as poster, roleplaying game cover. Also How to efficiently convey my thoughts to an artist so they can easily draw up what I am looking for. Best regards Philip J Wallace

[@AntoineBandele]

What happened to your beautiful font in the thumbnails recently?

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

I opted for legible over beautiful, and the metrics afterwards showed a clear positive change. How ironic that the best font is helvetica.

[@binaryspartan3261]

There's definitely a shortage of weight plates to order, but there's an alternative, though it takes some sweat equity. Making concrete weights (protip: spray finished concrete with truck liner sealant): kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJSZf5uKZ8SgmZo

[@consistentlychristy2991]

Yay the opening theme song is still there! You’re about to get serious dad bod, bro

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

Never! This time next year I will be ripped again. I want to be able to pick up my son, even when he's 30.

[@mskerr187]

Great video and message, Chris. I'm a solo parent with a busy job and far too often let my writing (and other important parts of life) get lost in the shuffle. I didn't know you were into power lifting. What kind of rack are you waiting on? I'm putting my RM-3 together this weekend. Cheers!

[@shinysehee]

Motivation

[@gainesdominique]

You powerlift 🤯

[@MatrixOne500]

Aren't you losing sight of yourself in all this? What you're describing, while wonderfully productive, sounds to me like the definition of suffering. You're balancing all those things in your life, but it looks as though you're struggling for survival, denying yourself relaxation, sleep, games, everything. Shouldn't that be a part of healthy balance? 4 hours of sleep isn't sustainable, it's terrifying. I think the real question is how to maintain a good writing habit without just looking forward to happiness and success, but also remaining somewhat happy.

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

Sometimes suffering is necessary to achieve the things we want in life. Having a newborn child induces a massive amount of suffering. I don't like it. But I will endure it until I reach a point where I don't have to suffer.

[@elaynegriffith]

I don’t even have kids and it’s still a struggle like that everyday 😂 Hence reason #453 I’m never reproducing. My creativity and energy would be dead. My books are my babies.

[@jrstrega]

Um, I'm sorry but what are you doing to yourself and why are you putting it out like ignoring your body's need for rest for months on end is a good idea? I don't know your numbers and you might have no choice but I don't think you should be recommending such behaviour to anyone. Your kid is going to want you around healthy and whole, a lot more than they will want you to make more money. Sounds like you're aware of the need for balance from your previous routine and sure, lifting weights might not be possible but get back to the healthy habits you can instead of ignoring your needs. I'm sorry but it's like watching a recipe for a heart attack.

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

You say it like I had a choice. Oh, get eight hours of sleep a night, or run myself ragged. In choosing to be a parent I chose to give up sleep. It doesn't matter if it's a "good idea". It's the deal I signed up for. The point of the video is that sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances we cannot control. When that happens we have a choice, and I'm choosing to do my best to keep pushing forward. In a year when my son is sleeping better, and the pandemic (hopefully) is in the rear view mirror I will be glad I did the work to keep my business running through a tough economic downturn. I understand your comment comes from a place of concern, but without walking in my shoes you don't really know where I'm at in terms of redlining. My wife keeps an eye on me. Neither of us are happy about what we're having to do, but the alternative is to let things lapse that we really can't. Putting a positive spin on one of the toughest times in my life is the only way I know forward. This shit is hard. Really hard. But I'm going to keep after it. And I'm going to keep recommending others pursue their own dreams with equal vigor. Don't work yourself into an early grave, but don't sit on the couch either. And when in adverse circumstances make the best of them. I bought the ticket. Now I get to take the ride. Parents don't get a choice any more.

[@jrstrega]

@@ChrisFoxWrites There's such a thing as spinning it too far into the positive. As I said, I don't know if you have a choice money wise but I have done that to myself and I'm paying the price so while you might need it to do it, I think painting is a success is bad advise for others. All the best!

[@ChrisFoxWrites]

@@jrstrega I respect your opinion, especially if you paid a price for pushing as I have. I've been going hard since I was 34 with no break. Coming up on a decade. It was a lifestyle change. Tending to burn out is important, and so is our health. But I'm proud of what I've accomplished and I do think it's a success to persevere through a difficult time while maintaining my optimism. There's too much gloom in the world. There's too many people failing to step up and do the things they need to do to have the lives they want to have. I will never again sell myself short, nor will I ever encourage others to do the same. All the best, and I mean that as sincerely as it can be meant =)

[@wallacechannel8532]

Chris I appreciate your videos. During the COVID lockdown I finished an 800 page book I started and put down in 1999 it’s an epic sci-fi that merges into fantasy then goes back to sci-fi.. I am doing a 3rd hard edit on it and it’s fruitful. I will have reached the full capacity of my ability editing and need a professional editor. I am also interested in how to get cover art. Can you do in depth videos on these questions, start to finish. How to find an editor and artist. What is the cost. Who is credible and has integrity. How to get an artist to offer several covers to choose from. What formats should these be in. Once you buy the cover art can you use it for other venues such as poster, roleplaying game cover. Also How to efficiently convey my thoughts to an artist so they can easily draw up what I am looking for. Best regards Philip J Wallace