I have been rather grumpy during the past few weeks. At first, I thought it was due to my busy domestic demands, and the fact that I was struggling to find “me time.” Then I wondered if the weather might be a factor: could I be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder in summer? I suppose it is possible… but that wasn’t the cause either. I was feeling frustrated about my husband’s job prospects (now thankfully resolved), and I was feeling incredibly frustrated about my own lack of self-discipline.

You see, I hadn’t written anything properly in weeks. I simply couldn’t find the time or the motivation. And I realised that I was actively blocking out my time with pointless busy tasks, or what I call “faffing around.” Lack of time isn’t my problem. It is lack of discipline to use my time wisely. And a grumpy attitude. Once I established what my problem was, I set about giving myself the proverbial kick up the backside. I am still faffing around, but I am also consciously trying to get back in my writing routine, do something productive, and improve my mood by doing what makes me happy. How do you improve your mood when you feel grumpy?

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