Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : Hello, and welcome to the replay. If you want to know some, kind of, quirky ways to increase your mental clarity, you are in the right place.… Hey Joann! You’ve been Scoping a lot. I have not actually caught you live yet, but I have loved seeing your titles pop up in my feed.
Hello. Some other people are coming in. Who all is in the room : Kenzy and Jessica, Darnell. Welcome guys! Okay…
Joann Krall ( https://twitter.com/JoannKrall ) : Hi!! Nothing earth shattering. :)
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Joann says, ““Hi. Nothing earth-shattering”… Organization IS earth-shattering [laughter].
JessR8 ( https://twitter.com/JessR8 ) : Hi Morgan!
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Jessica, “Hi.”.. For you folks on the replay, tap those hearts. They mean just as much after the fact [laughter]. Thank you…. If you like to talk about writing. go and hit “Perry-Buddy” down there, [to] change the “plus” to a “check”, and that will let you know when I’m Scoping.
Darnell Cureton ( https://twitter.com/DarnellCureton ) : Hey, hope your well.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Hey Darnell. [I] hope you are doing well, too… I am. I just came off of a webinar, so my heads everywhere, but I’m going to do some of these mental clarity thing with you guys.
FortranCraft ( https://twitter.com/fortrancraft ) : Hello.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Fortrancraft. You are new! Welcome. What’s your name? I’m pulling up your profile, like a stalker. Jeffrey. Welcome….
JessR8 ( https://twitter.com/JessR8 ) : I missed your webinar today for my day job but I'll catch it tomorrow.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Jessica says, “I missed your webinar today for my day job but I'll catch it tomorrow”… There’s a replay too. I’m a fan of replays, because honestly I usually watch the replay [laughter].
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : webinar?
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : …. Kenzel, yes. I had a webinar. In fact, I’m doing another one tomorrow. Let me let you know where that is. It’s http://www.paperravenbooks.com/12stepswebinar . [irrelevant comment] And tomorrow at 11:00 am US Central time, there will be a replay too. It is seriously a step-by-step “How to write an ebook that boosts your business and builds your platform”. It’s pretty awesome content.
Joann Krall ( https://twitter.com/JoannKrall ) : I missed it too! Writing down now.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … You’re writing it down now? Thank you, Joann… It will be on Twitter too. I’ll post the link on Twitter at :
@morgangmac ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac )
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Oh, that's the switch-over biz, right?
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … I don’t know. This is more, for me, if you already have a message that you want to share, and that you, kind of, ARE sharing – either through a business, or nonprofit movement, awareness. Whatever it is, if you have something that you feel called to share, an ebook is a really great way to actually start building that momentum. So this is, kind of, the “12 Steps” to literally WRITE the book. We’re not talking about marketing, or anything like that.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Based on r previous [conversation]
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … “Based on previous convo”… Oh, yes. Based on yesterday. Exactly, KZ… So who am I? I am Morgan Gist MacDonald. I’m a writing coach, an editor, and author. And I Scope about writing.
FortranCraft ( https://twitter.com/fortrancraft ) : I'm still hooked on dead tree media :p
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : …Jeffrey says, “I'm still hooked on dead tree media ”… Oh, [laughter] books. There’s room for all. You can print it in paper too. You can put it on Amazon, and do it through CreateSpace, and then it’s STILL “dead tree media”, but available for EVERYONE… And I help people write books [laughter]. That;s what I do. I walk with you chapter-by-chapter, from vague idea to first draft to finished manuscript. So here on this Periscope I give you all kinds of crazy, free, awesome advice about writing and books, and all of that fun stuff.
So today we’re talking about quirky ways – [laughter] they’re quirky because they’re my own – to increase mental clarity. So let’s talk a little bit about mental clarity. It’s really important to have, kind of, that sharp focused mind for writing, because writing is actually a fairly intense process, right? I mean, if you really write for several hours in a row…
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : welcome 2 quirky club!
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Kenzel says, “Welcome to the quirky club.”. Yup… If you write several hours in a row, you’re going to be tired afterward. So you, kind of, need to PREP for your writing sessions. And whether you write really early in the morning, or late at night -or at the middle of the day -you’re going to be struggling with energy issues, right? So if you write early in the morning you’ve got the morning “brain fog”, and you’ve got to, kind of, wake up and get going. If you’re writing in the afternoon you probably have a post-lunch “brain fog” and you need to sharpen up. If you’re dealing with the end of the day you’re probably tired, and you’ve used all of your adrenaline, and you just don’t feel like you have second wind in you.
So I find that MOST people struggle with, FIRST, getting the energy level up, and THEN focusing. So that’s usually how I struggle…
FortranCraft ( https://twitter.com/fortrancraft ) : Yes I have lots of brain fog
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Oh, Jeffrey says, “ I have lots of brain fog”… That’s what I usually struggle with. I will say [that] some foundational stuff – that I’m not actually talking about today – would be [that] you cannot get around the fact that the food you eat, the amount you sleep, and the amount you exercise contribute greatly to your mental clarity. I mean, how many scientific studies do we need that [say] that you should eat healthy, get enough sleep, and exercise. There are a [like] a bigillion [laughter]. First we need to do THAT, but I will put that aside.
MIguel Rubbio ( https://twitter.com/MiguelangRubio ) : I woke up 5 in the morning and had a 40 session,I'm so proud.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : ..Miguel says, “I woke up 5 in the morning and had a 40 session.”… I’m so proud of you too. Good job, MIguel. That is awesome, and that is the way to turn pro. Am I right?
Okay. So we’re just going to table that discussion, because you don’t need a writing coach to tell you how to live a healthy life.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Hashimotos (autoimmuns) & brain fog go hand in hand.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Kenzel [says], “Autoimmune and brain fog…”… Ooo, yeah. For sure. And when you’re talking autoimmune diseases it’s really difficult to also talk about the whole exercise and sleeping well too, because those usually are affected as well. So while I can’t – and am not honestly qualified- to – talk about those basic nutritional things, here are some random things that I do.
So in the mornings I have started having this interesting beverage, because I write first thing in the morning. I brought my ingredients with me. Okay. So I DON’T hit coffee first, because I’m trying to wean off of coffee a little bit. This is a demonstration Scope. I take ginger, slice off about four slices, put it in a pot of boiling water, bring it up to a boil and let it simmer for twenty minutes…
JennVasquezFit ( https://twitter.com/jennvazquezfit) :Welcome to my world! A celiac personal trainer! Working out while in a fog – not always pretty!
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : …Jenn says, “Welcome to my world! A celiac personal trainer! Working out while in a fog ”… Ugh, sorry.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Can’t drink coffee w/Hashimotos.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Oh, you can’t drink coffee anyway. So try this! You might love this. Okay. It starts with the ginger. You’re going to bring it to a boil and let it simmer. Then I strain it into a mug. Get this…
Joann Krall ( https://twitter.com/JoannKrall ) : Love ginger. You can also press with garlic press to get juice. Less effort.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : …Joann says, “Love ginger…”… Yes. Oh that’s such a good idea. Okay. Then I put some honey [and] lemon in. Then I put some cayenne pepper in [laughter] for a REAL kick. And sometime, when I’m really tired, I actually just pour some of the lemon juice into a spoon and just drink it straight [laughter]. Because the interesting thing… …Thanks for the hearts guys. This is so crazy, isn’t it? But it totally works…
Okay. The interesting thing about the mind/body connection is that when you put pungent, spicy, surprising things into your sensory system, your mind like wakes up. It’s like, “Whoa! What the f***” is happening??? Like. “Why did someone just put lemon juice in my mouth?” [laughter] Yes, so sometimes when I’m really tired I’ll start with a big spoonful of lemon juice, and it’s like, “Blah!”. But it works. Then I drink this concoction with the ginger and honey and lemon and cayenne pepper.
So that, kind of, gets my system rolling. Then I still have not yet introduced caffeine into my system, so the coffee actually has a more sustained effect for me.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : i drink a protein smoothie bc I'm one of few who doesn't like breakfast.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Kenzel [says], “i drink a protein smoothie because”… you don’t like breakfast… I don’t like to FIX breakfast, and I get up so early that by the time everyone else is up, I’m hungry. So I agree. I actually usually have a protein shake.
Okay. So that’s what I do, kind of, first thing in the morning, or in the day if I need to. Other weird ways to wake up your mind [include] sometimes I hang upside down [laughter]. [I] just lay on my bed and hang my head off the edge of the bed, upside down, for just a minute. I don’t even know if that is scientifically a good idea [laughter], but it really HELPS.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : inversion table, i love it!
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : …Inversion table?… Okay. Someone has a legitimate name for this… Okay. Then, of course, if you’re really just feeling stiff in your back and stuff…
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : I should scope it!
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … You SHOULD Scope it. That would be awesome…. get up and stretch. Like stretch your arms, bend over, touch your toes, reach. Freeing up that circulation in your body actually – I mean, I’m not a nutritionist, or physiologist, or anything like that – I think, does increase the circulation, and of course your brain, neurons, and whatever, getting circulation is going to help you be more clear.
Okay. So HALF the battle is getting your neurons firing. Right? Oh, shoot! I didn’t bring this part for the demonstration, but I also have a bottle of essential oils with peppermint. I actually usually [keep this] by my desk – it’s not in this room right now. But it’s a bottle of peppermint oil, and I just sniff it [laughter]. I just open it up and sniff that peppermint oil, and just let it sit under my nose for a good ten seconds, and that really helps.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Apple cider vinegar with the mother.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Kenzel says, “Apple cider vinegar”… Ooo. I like that. I’m going to try apple cider vinegar, for sure. Okay. So, peppermint oil really helps to, kind of, clear the mind. You can also, if you have a diffuser, you can diffuse in the room. Be careful with peppermint oil. I have gotten it in my eyes before, and it stings like crazy. I just fell on the ground [laughter]. My kids were watching me, and I was just on the ground crying, and they were like, “What is mom doing?”
JessR8 ( https://twitter.com/JessR8 ) : Peppermint lemon
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Peppermint and lemon… That’s a good idea. I think I have some lemon essential oil, too.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Flush with carrier oil.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … “Flush with carrier oil”… Well, if I had had carrier oil that would have been a good idea [laughter]. It DOES stink.
Okay. So the ginger concoction, sniffing the peppermint oil, doing physical things like literally stretching or hanging your head off the bed, those are all good things for, kind of, bring that awareness. But then…
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Coconut olive or jojoba oil.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Ooo, “Coconut, olive or jojoba oil”… We need a conversation. We need to take this to Twitter, and I need to gather [your] data… Coconut oil. Is that for the peppermint sting? I’ve got to connect with you guys and figure out what we’re talking about, because I have lost this thread.
But, next the main problem is getting the excited neurons to, sort of, focus. So, this is where we come back into breathing techniques. So we talked about the “box” breathing technique – which I’m NOT going to try to lead again, because that was terrible – but you inhale for a count of four, and you hold for a count of four, and then you exhale for a count of four, and then you hold for a count of four. So do that just like five or six times in a row, and it really helps to, kind of, bring the energy into a focus.
All right Then my last tip …Thanks for the hearts guys. This is such a weird topic. I’m glad you’re all into it [laughter] I must be surrounded by the right people. … If you’re feeling anxious and stressed when you sit down to write it’s not going to be productive. So the best way to really get out your stress is to write for ten minutes, just like randomly. Just write out your stress for ten minutes before you officially start writing. So [with a] blank piece of paper – a blank document – just tell yourself WHY you’re so freaking stressed. For ten minutes write it out, and then say, “Okay.”…
JennVasquezFit( https://twitter.com/jennvazquezfit ) : Right up my alley! Love this stuff!
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Oh, I’m glad this is up your alley… Then say, “Okay. I AM stressed about that, and it’s TOTALLY OKAY to be stressed about that. It’s down. It’s on paper. I’m going to literally put it to the side for the moment.” And then you’ll be ready to start writing. You’ll be so much more productive, [and] so much more – just HAPPY – even to be writing We want you to be happy while you’re writing, because if you’re always tired, and stressed, and anxious while you’re writing you’re going to create these really bad, sort of, emotional feedback loops, and you’re going to start associating writing with bad emotions.
So INSTEAD, what we want to try to do is bring up that mental clarity…
Tracy Borgmeyer ( https://twitter.com/tracyborgmeyer ) : Will do
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Oh, Tracy. You just missed a crazy conversation. You’re going to have to catch this replay [laughter] . Let me say that it involves : ginger, honey, lemon and cayenne pepper. It’s worth the replay [laughter]…
Okay. So we’ve brought up our mental clarity, we have focused it, put aside the anxiety, and now we are at a much better mental and emotional state to be writing. So we want this feedback loop that is like, “I am enjoying writing, and I want to write more… I am enjoying writing, and I want to write more.” We want to establish that, almost, emotional pattern.
So guys, that’s what I have got for you today. I’m really glad that yáll are into it, and that yáll totally rolled with me on the coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar.
JessR8 ( https://twitter.com/JessR8 ) : I wrote for 45 min and 4 pages last night! Helped that the kids weren't here.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Jessica “wrote for 45 min and 4 pages last night!”… Yay! … It DOES help when the kids aren’t there. I agree. But since we’re moms we totally APPRECIATE those moments when the kids are not there, and we jump on them. We’re like, “Okay. Now I need to write”.
Good job, guys. Miguel and Jess, yáll are rocking it. It’s awesome. Okay.guys. We’re done for today. I’ve got to go get some lunch.
JessR8 ( https://twitter.com/JessR8 ) : Of course I did switch topics once… Oops. Not the one thing.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … You DID switch topics? It’s hard.
MIguel Rubbio ( https://twitter.com/MiguelangRubio ) : Do u see my scopes I'm not sure if u ever catch it?
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Miguel, I have NOT seen your Scopes. I SWEAR I am following you. I’m going to double-check again. Are you posting them on Katch, Miguel? Are you using Katch, because I will binge replay watch if you are Katching them. If you are not Katching them just go to Katch.me.
MIguel Rubbio ( https://twitter.com/MiguelangRubio ) : Yeah.
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Okay. Cool. That will be my lunchtime viewing.
Kay-Zee ( https://twitter.com/kenzelsfire ) : Following u now Miguel
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … Yeay! Yes, Miguel is writing his book right now, too. You guys are doing awesome. I’m so proud of you…
JessR8 ( https://twitter.com/JessR8 ) : Keep feeding
Morgan MacDonald ( https://twitter.com/morgangmac) : … “Keep feeding”… Oh, I was like, “I keep feeding myself. I’m going to lunch right now”… Okay. Let’s cut it for today guys. Y’all go do some writing. I’m doing that webinar tomorrow :
http://www.paperravenbooks.com/12stepswebinar
if you want to write your book I will show you how. And I will catch you guys tomorrow, either on the webinar, or on Periscope, or both. It’s a party. It’s a non-stop writing party. Alrighty guys. Talk to you soon.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
Transcription service provided by : http://www.diaryofafreelancetranscriptionist.com