I love the German notion of die Zeit zwischen den Jahren (the time between the years), this peaceful time between Christmas and the start of the new year, January 6th by the old calendar. Time for reflection, long walks in the snow (okay, not in Las Vegas), and leftover holiday treats.

I was looking forward to enjoying the tail end of our first Vegas holiday season, perhaps a fahncy New Year’s Eve dinner, but I got an extra Christmas surprise—Covid!

Thank goodness I’m triple-vaxxed. So far, Omicron (I assume that’s what I’ve got) feels like a bad cold with body aches. Took us three days to track down a test. May blessings rain down upon the overworked urgent care staff who are testing as fast as they can. Hubs tested negative, hallelujah, so we have another week of wearing masks at home and sleeping in separate rooms.

So, no fun year-end events for us, but plenty of time for reflection. I like this trend of a one-word resolution for the New Year, and mine is…

Between the pandemic and the solitary, computer-driven nature of the writing life, my concentration is absolutely shredded. Yes, social media and internet surfing are valuable tools for an author, but they can also become an addiction. During a time that’s sucked so much of the joy out of life, it’s so tempting to hop over to Twitter, etc., “just for a moment.” Chatting up online “friends” gives me a feeling of connection missing from my real-life routine—especially since we uprooted ourselves to move from Washington State to Las Vegas.

So—in 2022, I will retrain my overcaffeinated squirrel brain to focus on ONE. THING. AT. A. TIME. There will be timers to mark out writing sprints. There will be planned breaks when I stand and check social media for exactly five minutes.  There will be planned blocks of time for creating social media posts, and enforced exercise breaks. One. Bloody. Task. At a time. We can do this! Who’s with me?

Image by Matthias Kost from Pixabay

After nearly two years of indulging my inner squirrel’s worst impulses, sharpening my focus will be a challenge, but I’m gonna give it my best shot, and I predict increased productivity and better mental health. We shall see.

What’s your focus for 2022? Please drop me a note in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.

P.S. Just six more days until Bangers Tavern Romance 3 makes its debut! You’ll love Anna and Diego’s story, available from all major online booksellers.

Bangers Tavern chef Diego meets a woman who makes his heart sing. Trouble is, she’s pregnant with another man’s child. To win her, he’ll have to convince her and both their interfering families that he’s in it for keeps.

Order your copy of Delicious Heat today!