10,000 hours

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 in Blogging | 1 comment

Practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours – that is the key to success in any field according to Malcom  Gladwell. 

Image: The Personal Excellence Blog

He is the author of Outliers, which is one of my favorite books ever. And it is with this in mind (with the goal of becoming a great writer) that I decided to undertake the Post a Week WordPress challenge. My challenge to myself is to write at least 5 posts a week, while keeping computer use to a maximum of 2-3 hours per day!

WHUUUTTT???

I know right? In the past 9 months of blogging, I estimate I have spent about 1,500 blogging-related hours on the computer. At that rate, I can finish off my 10,000 hours in just 4 years and 3 months.

BUT if I limit time on the computer to 3 hours/day max , that would mean I will clock in my 10,000 hours EIGHT YEARS from now! Ack!

Yup I need to decrease computer time to help my tennis elbow and wrist injuries heal. All the tennis, yoga, baking and sewing don’t help either  - SIGH! Right now no Downward Dog poses for this DiploWife!

My physical health is as important as honing my writing skills. So even if blogging is my current obsession, I need to also exert some self-control and find a balance between blogging and other activities in my life that don’t place any pressure on my wrists. (It’s going to be hard I know!)

And even if it takes me 8 years.. who cares? At least I am working towards it. And it would be nice to think that in 8 years, I will be a great writer, happy, healthy and still have full use of my hands. =)

“But the only way a writer or creator finds their way to quality is by writing – a lot of writing”

So no excuses! =)