No hives any more, thanks!!

Thanks for your comment re: the hives. At least they’re starting to disappear now! Phew!

Hi May,

So gad you enjoyed the column! Yes, sleep is REALLY important. A few years ago I acquired a sleep disorder and found it incredibly difficult to work. After much fighting with my then-GP, I finally got a referral to a sleep disorder clinic. It changed my life! Now I’m back to sleeping well and it makes a HUGE difference to my producitivity.

Further congratulations for the fact that this column is extremely helpful. Not that they usually aren’t, but I think you understand. I recently thought to myself that willpower doesn’t seem to even exist, because no matter how strongly I resolve to complete my writing tasks by a certain schedule, I seem to lack the drive when the time comes.

This book entails a more thorough explanation, which I appreciate. At the least, willpower isn’t as simple as mere grit and resolute self-talk. It is, as you point out, a resource which must be well spent.

The note about sleep gave me an “aha!” moment. I actually failed my writing goal yesterday, and the chief culprit? I had a bad sleep the prior night and was drained. The usual factor in my hardest writing days is sleep deprivation. Sometimes I feel that it’s sleep, and not money, that makes the world go ’round.

Thank you again, not only for more of your immediately practical insight, but also for the book recommendation!