The Most Unexpected Benefit of Writing Every Day

The one aspect of my character that has benefited the most as a result of my daily writing habit? Discipline.

When I set out almost three months ago to write every day, I was embarking on a set of experiments on myself, not only on my ability to improve my writing skills, but also on key personality characteristics that I felt I was deficient in.

So it’s no surprise that roughly three months in, I’ve learned quite a bit about a variety of areas within myself.

One of the most unexpected has been a drastic increase in my general level of discipline. Discipline is the mind and body’s ability to retain focus and avoid distraction until a task is achieved.This may seem self-evident or obvious – of course daily writing will take discipline – otherwise the “daily” part would quickly fall by the wayside. But this exercise has far exceeded my expectations. It has strengthened my discipline in all aspects of life – especially in a professional capacity.

Just as I am consistently driven to find a slot in every day to put pen to paper (or thumb to screen) for this writing habit, so too have I now been more intentional about allocating time each day to hone in on one task and drive it to completion in the workplace.

So if and when you choose to write daily, which I highly suggest you try (even if just for a week), be mindful of how it impacts the other skills you hope to develop.

Speaking of discipline, I should get back to my workout, I’ve been typing furiously here in the gym like a weirdo while I pedal the stationary bike. #noexcuses

See you tomorrow.