Marcus Lopés

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discipline

The ‘Art’ of Discipline

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the art of discipline

Every morning I crawl out of bed early, before the sun rises. When the city is dark, few cars barrelling down the streets. It is, usually, quiet. And this is my time to journal (Morning Pages), to write and create … to embrace me just as I am.

I don’t talk about my early morning routine as if it’s a badge of honour, or to promote it as something that everyone should do. But it’s my most creative time. During other moments of the day when I struggle to manage distractions, when — despite my best intentions — I’m still reaching for my phone, those early morning hours give me (usually) the space and focus to move my creative projects forward. Slowly. Intentionally. Steadily. [Read more…] about The ‘Art’ of Discipline

The Inside Scoop Behind My Social Media Blackout

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At the end of 2019, I took a break from social media. Overwhelmed and approaching burnout, I needed to take charge of my daily schedule. And, most importantly, I wanted to stay focused on what matters most: writing. Not just that. I realized I spent too much time reaching for my phone, scanning the headlines on BBC.com, checking the likes and comments on Facebook posts, or my blog stats.

blackoutOn 1 December 2019, I began a social media blackout. I deleted the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram apps from my phone. I used Freedom — an app that blocks distracting apps and websites — to restrict access to social media and news sites between 12:01 am and 8:00 pm daily. Why did I choose that time frame? As a morning person (rising between 3:30 and 4:00 am), it was crucial that I didn’t have access to the sites and apps I wanted to avoid as I started my day. And I’m usually beginning my bedtime rituals around 8:00 pm.

How we use the time gifted to us is our choice. Going dark reinforced that for me. [Read more…] about The Inside Scoop Behind My Social Media Blackout

Down to the Wire

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Nearly fifteen weeks ago, I signed up for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. It seemed so far away at the time, almost surreal. What was I thinking? The most I’d ever run was 23.5 km, and that was only because I’d gotten lost! Did I have it in me to run 42 km? Could I train properly around my work schedule and jet lag? Was I committed? So many questions had me doubting myself. And now, with the race four days away, it’s down to the wire.

A Test of Nerves

down to the wireIn perhaps an odd way, the years of writing helped with my marathon training. It required discipline. Showing up every day to do the work wasn’t a choice but something I had to do. Didn’t matter how I felt, or if it rained or if temperatures hit 40°C with humidity. I ran. It required courage. The temptation to quit a new challenge is strong in the beginning, especially when I doubted I could do it, or thought everyone around me was better. But I dug deep to find the strength — mentally and physically — to push on.

It required belief. I would not let my inner critic rule the day. I wasn’t discouraged by the many, many, stories people eagerly shared about someone they knew who trained hard and then injured themselves just before the competition, or hit the wall during the race. No, I kept holding on to the belief that I can and will do this. For fifteen weeks, I’ve visualized giving my all and crossing the finish line. Yes, I’m nervous as it comes down to the wire but … I’m ready.

Down to the Wire

These final days leading up to the race for me are like a book release (which is happening soon, too!). I’ve already laid the foundation, done all I could to be a success. I don’t exactly know what’s going to happen the day of, except … I’m going to show up and give it my all.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? What did you learn from it about yourself? Click Reply to let me know. I love hearing from you!

Cutting Out the Noise

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Chasing down big dreams, another lesson I’ve learned is this: cut out the noise.

Battling Social Media

For me, that ‘noise’ is social media — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and e-mail. We could argue (I won’t, though) that smartphones make our lives easier. But the new norm is for us to be available 24/7. Scared we’re going to miss out on something, we’re always reaching for our phones (next time you’re outside, take a moment to observe the number of people walking with their heads down and glued to their devices). And the tendency to stay connected all the time can kill productivity. [Read more…] about Cutting Out the Noise

How I Begin

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I don’t set an alarm. I don’t need to. I’m a light sleeper and wake up a couple of times during the night. But when my back starts to ache, when I’m just rolling from side to side, that’s when I know it’s time. It’s time to get to work. This is how I begin each day.

That’s sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 am. I don’t shower or brush my teeth. I put on my running gear (shorts and a T-shirt), prepare my Amino Energy drink, and sit down at my desk. Then I capture the moment — the sort of haggard, sleepy look — with the camera on my iPhone and post it to Instagram, and sometimes Twitter. Proof that I’m up writing. Proof that I’m sticking to my routine. Already, it’s taken fifteen minutes before my pen finally touches the page.

How I Begin

A small sample of my journal collection.

I take my latest notebook (I try not to use the same one twice, so I have a diverse collection) and begin with my Morning Pages. Afterwards, I start the first draft of a blog post. By this point, I’ve been up for an hour and a half to two hours. The blog post isn’t done, but it’s time to get out for a run. I run under the veil of darkness, and when I see another runner it does feel like two ships passing in the night. The cool, crisp morning air fills my lungs and, running, I’ve gone into ‘the zone.’ I quiet my mind. I try to hear life speaking to me. Now I’m ready to take on whatever the day throws at me.

Back home, I peel off my sweaty running gear, throw on one of the ratty, fraying yet comfy ringer T-shirts I bought from Old Navy ten years ago and just can’t throw away, and finish the blog post. It’s a draft. Is it any good? Will people find value in it? I don’t know. I’ll come back to it in a few days to tweak it, rewrite it … maybe even chuck it out and start again. All that matters is that I’ve written something without letting procrastination have dominion over me.

Keep it Going

Even though I’m a morning person, getting up early every day isn’t easy. Some mornings, my energy dips low around 8:00 am. As a result, I crawl back into bed for forty-five minutes to an hour. I don’t sleep. I just lay there, let my body rest. Afterwards, I get up, shower, have breakfast, and park myself at my desk. I work on my primary writing project, which is either writing the first draft of a book or rewriting one. When I’m just staring at the spines of the dictionaries and thesauruses on my desk, I know I’m no longer being productive. The writing day is over, usually around 1:30 pm. I step out of my writing world and into another.

I don’t worry any more about how many words I’ve written, how many pages I produced, or how good the writing may or may not be. I’ve shown up and done the work. That’s what counts for me.

This is how I begin. This is how I make it over.

How do you begin each day? At what point do you know that you’re no longer being productive and must step away from the work? Hit Reply or leave a comment in the section below. I’d love to hear from you.