Goal Setting for Songwriters with Tryggvi

00:00.00

eyvindur

All right? Tryggvi, welcome to the strongwriting podcast. Um, so we're gonna we're gonna um, set some goals today. But before we begin I want you to just introduce yourself. We've known each other for a long time.

00:03.32

Tryggvi

Ah, thank you Good to be here.

00:17.87

eyvindur

But I'm assuming most of the listeners don't know you so please tell us about your songwriting journey and and tell me everything.

00:24.77

Tryggvi

Well I've been writing music since well basically since I was a teenager but um I started um writing proper songs in 2008 I think like um and started putting out songs. Um, in 2018 so I'm a really late bloomer in that respect. Um, but um, yeah I've been I've been having quite a lot of success lately for those 3 songs that I put out. Um, one of my songs was selected. Um, to be 1 of the songs for the day of icelandic music this year where the whole nation sang 3 songs that were selected. Yeah for that day for that that occasion and um to part in ah and the live television. Um, broadcast on the day and um, all of my songs have actually reached top the top 30 and on the radio charts. Um, one of those like actually reads number 3 for a few weeks so

01:34.50

eyvindur

Yeah.

01:40.40

eyvindur

Yeah.

01:43.15

Tryggvi

Um, so my journey has been quite good when I finally set off on it like having written music like basically all my life but not until like my early 40 s when I like really started to put it put it out there.

01:47.46

eyvindur

Yeah.

01:59.10

eyvindur

Yeah.

02:01.24

Tryggvi

And realizing that my songs actually have an audience and and I can actually um, people are actually listening to it and want to hear more something that I wasn't expecting at all.

02:13.49

eyvindur

Yeah, and there are so many people including myself who can relate to that I think and I think a lot of people listening will know ah that feeling of I don't think anybody's going to want to listen to this except me but you know you are living proof that that's. Usually not true. I mean there's ah you know we we all tend to sell ourselves short and when we put ourselves out there. We get good things back and you actually got a government grant right.

02:43.19

Tryggvi

Yes, yes, um, for um, like for my next album and like my first Ep hasn't even come out yet like I've only had like those singles out and um and actually my ep will come out probably.

02:51.67

eyvindur

Right.

03:01.28

eyvindur

Awesome.

03:01.77

Tryggvi

This may so yeah, just put the finishing touch in it like yesterday. So it should come out. It should come out like in a couple of months or so hopefully if everything goes to plan and I got a grant for for the next one which I think is.

03:06.90

eyvindur

Ah, congratulations. Wonderful Yes, it will. Yeah.

03:21.50

Tryggvi

Like such an such an honor and like to to have and people people believe in it that much that like they actually are giving me a grant for another one when I haven't cut one out yet. So so now I have to write more songs like now I'm kind of like oh my God now I have to write.

03:34.80

eyvindur

It's amazing. It's wonderful.

03:39.41

eyvindur

Yeah, yeah.

03:40.20

Tryggvi

Like it's not just ah, not just ah, something that I can do in my free time like I have to write a lot more. It sure is.

03:45.73

eyvindur

And that's a scary feeling sometimes and I know that I've been through you know when I got my first job writing for theater an actual paid job to to write music I was ecstatic for about 24 hours and then I panicked.

03:55.33

Tryggvi

Her.

04:02.96

eyvindur

Ah, so so oh no I have to write these 10 songs and and on a deadline and I can't just sit around and wait for inspiration and that's really where my my sort of system of songwriting came from where I just said. Okay i.

04:04.92

Tryggvi

Um, yeah.

04:18.57

eyvindur

Need to figure out ways to make this happen on a regular basis and.

04:21.24

Tryggvi

Yeah, so a system that is something that I'm really really needing right now. Yes.

04:26.74

eyvindur

Right? And you're a coaching client and and today we want to talk about ah goals because you know you obviously have you have an built-in goal here. You need to ah put together an album because you've.

04:43.00

Tryggvi

Yes.

04:46.20

eyvindur

You have money you there is money now and and it's ah, there's It's not enough. Yeah, exactly it.

04:50.40

Tryggvi

Seriouslyly the other way around like I need money to get those songs out but now it's like I need songs to put that money to use.

04:55.65

eyvindur

Yes, exactly. So there's pressure which is the best thing that can happen for ah, any music career it it forces you out of your comfort zone and ah we we talked before we started recording about sort of long term and short-term goals. And and your long-term goal as is as everybody should have you know every everybody in your position should have is to make a living from songwriting whether that's ah I mean eventually hopefully a full time Living. Um and hopefully a good living. Um, but at least you know make make money from your music and the the short term goal that we discussed ah the one that's going to get you the album and the one that's going to get you to that place ultimately is. To have a consistent and strong songwriting routine so that you're creating on a regular basis So does so that it's not just happening in in short bursts right? All right.

06:03.79

Tryggvi

Yes, yes, like waiting for inspiration should be the title of my um, my ep actually because that's kind of like the way I've been like it took me 3 years and that's because the songwriting has taken like the like that's the time it's taken like.

06:11.20

eyvindur

Yeah.

06:20.93

eyvindur

Yeah.

06:23.23

Tryggvi

Hasn't been the recording sort of the producing or anything. It's just been the slow songwriting.

06:27.16

eyvindur

Yeah, and that's I think way too common in my experience from talking to songwriters. There are you know procrastination tends to be the pain of our existence and there are 2 main reasons that I found. It's either.

06:38.66

Tryggvi

Ah.

06:43.97

eyvindur

Ah, people get stuck waiting for inspiration and I always say that inspiration is a myth. Anyway, it's just you know it's you can you can? That's why I I I do what I call creative mining. It's not. You know you're not waiting for something to.

06:49.92

Tryggvi

Yeah, good point.

07:02.48

eyvindur

Come your way you're going and you're getting it. Um and the other reason is and that's the one that I have struggled with is confidence to just get things done and and that presents itself in the form of Perfectionism which is often The worst thing that can happen you know and. You know there's a famous saying procrastination is just a fancy word for yeah Perfectionism is just ah, a fancy word for procrastination and and I happen to think that's True. So Ah before we get into breaking down this goal of of. Setting up a consistent songwriting routine. Why don't you tell me why why? this is important to you I mean we've sort of talked about it but let's just set it down and and even write it down like why is this goal important to you right now.

07:53.15

Tryggvi

Um, the goal to have consistent writing and like to be consistent in and in writing songs. Um like I've always had these bursts of of like I write like.

08:00.85

eyvindur

Yeah.

08:10.13

Tryggvi

1 2 3 up to 5 songs and then like there's nothing nothing nothing like months and months that's why it's taken me like yeah 3 years to to finish just a short tp and it's important to me like both for my just for my writing confidence to have.

08:26.60

eyvindur

Right.

08:29.24

Tryggvi

Something steady going on there like like um because like it it always takes kind of like when it takes such a long time and when you like when you keep waiting for something to happen and then it doesn't happen because and then like you stop trying to because um. Yeah, because it just doesn't happen because you're not really doing anything for it to to make it happen and like that takes away my confidence and that takes away like and then I start procrastinating a lot more. And yeah, it's It's just important to to keep me going like um.

08:52.52

eyvindur

Sure fine.

09:04.58

eyvindur

Right? Get momentum.

09:08.12

Tryggvi

All the yeah the momentum and and and like and all the goals will like they will all fall apart if if like if this isn't happening then like but I can't really have any long-term goals if if I can't like have an output.

09:14.81

eyvindur

Right. Yeah, yeah's I think that's a really good point if you know if if your ah if your creative output is consistent. A lot of the other goals will fall into place and it's going to be a lot easier to to set goals of of. You know, increasing revenue of getting songs. Ah out there. You know getting albums out there and and also getting songs into maybe ah theater as I've been doing or into movies or video games or whatever. Um, in terms of you know, getting in in some revenue. So yeah I mean um. The music business today. It's not like it was you know thirty forty years ago when people could put out an album every three years and make a living off of that. It's it's very much a numbers game now regardless of whether you want to focus on streams or selling albums or.

10:04.41

Tryggvi

Ah.

10:14.86

eyvindur

Getting music licensed or working in theater or whatever it comes down to creating a lot of songs. Ah, you know if if you want if you want revenue. So I think that's that's a great. Ah, ah, that's a great why you know is just ah.

10:20.68

Tryggvi

Um, yeah.

10:33.44

eyvindur

Line everything else up and so that's what's going to happen if you if you accomplish this if you if you get into a rhythm of creativity. It's going to allow you to have a better vision and and have a better. Ah, it's gonna be It's gonna be easier to reach other goals. Think it's a great It's a great goal to set for the next and again we're we're going to do this in the next three months that's our goal right here is for the next three months to be focused on consistency and and if you don't that's another question and by the way we're working from a goal setting Worksheet. And if anybody out there wants to go through the same process. You can follow along by going to strongwriting dot net slash goals and there you can download this. Ah this goal setting worksheet for free. So what happens if you don't accomplish this.

11:29.47

Tryggvi

Um, if I don't accomplish this goal then like all my long-term goals won't um, won't take place either. So Um, and it will like I know that like it will also just like. Will keep keep like digging itself into my confidence and into all the other things and um, yeah, like like knowing myself and know that like this will be like oh so like I can't have consistent output.

11:53.25

eyvindur

Sure.

12:05.75

Tryggvi

Um, if I can't do that then like then I really can't do any of the other stuff like why am I being a musician. Why am I like am I really am I actually creative and it's something that like um like I have to deal with that doubt like um, every day anyway and like and um ah know that like this will also help and.

12:08.62

eyvindur

Yeah, stop. Right.

12:24.20

eyvindur

Yeah, confidence and drive are super important. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and and you know and I can say for me, you know I've I've gone through this cycle a number of times and.

12:25.21

Tryggvi

And that so yes, drive is something that like that I would love to have a lot more of.

12:41.84

eyvindur

And there is a definite you know if if I just sit down with my guitar and and at least open up my audio workstation then I just feel better about myself. Even if I don't write anything if I just sit down to do that. It's sort of like a guy I knew he had this trick of.

12:44.84

Tryggvi

Ah.

13:01.20

eyvindur

Um, for going to the gym. He no matter how badly he was feeling no matter if he was sick or if he was just not feeling up for it or whatever he would always go to the gym and put on his gym clothes and then he could back out if he if he wanted to go home Again. At that point he gave himself permission to do that and he almost never did ah and I think that you know if you just if you go through the motions of getting started then chances are you'll do something and it's going to help you because ah willpower is the last thing you should rely on when it comes to anything.

13:22.21

Tryggvi

Further. Yeah.

13:37.95

eyvindur

Ah, because willpower is is just so limited. But so um, okay, so we have our goal and ah well we we we know that we want you to set up a ah ah ah, proper ah consistent songwriting routine.

13:54.95

Tryggvi

Yes, who.

13:57.23

eyvindur

So now we're going to go through the smarter framework smarter is ah yeah, most people have heard of the smart framework of goal setting. This is called smarter and it's just a slight variation on smart. So. It's an acronym and ah smarter stands for specific measurable. Actionable risky time-based exciting and ah relevant should be 1 of those. Ah but I've got risky down here twice for some reason so it should be should be relevant is the second is the first r is relevant the second is risky. I need to update this worksheet? Yeah yeah, yeah, no, it's supposed to be relevant. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's risky and then more ah, no specific measurable actionable relevant time based exciting and risky. So ah.

14:35.60

Tryggvi

Yes, it's It's a little bit scary when it says risky twice and I'm like okay so like more more risky.

14:53.51

eyvindur

So Let's go through this and and Alter. Ah the goal of consistent routine based on this so specific. Ah, a consistent routine is not specific enough. Um, so it should be ah so we should think about you know what do you want to accomplish and why. And what are the requirements for that and what are the constraints. So ah I would say that um what you're trying to do is is to create consistently and to make that more specific. It should be a goal of having a daily songwriting routine. That's that's way more specific. So yeah, Ah so that's that's your more specific goal to have a daily songwriting routine and and then we can get into to exactly how that is but that's at least.

15:34.48

Tryggvi

A daily songri routine putting that down.

15:51.26

eyvindur

More specific as a goal and so we want to make it measurable and so that includes like how how you're going to measure your progress and how you'll know when that's accomplished so there are 2 There are 2 types of goals. There are ah achievement Goals. Meaning you're going to achieve something specific or there are habit goals and this is a habit goal. So There's no um, the so this is really the the the the process is what we measure not the outcome. So we're going to.

16:16.30

Tryggvi

For sure.

16:27.53

eyvindur

Ah, you know because if it was a measurable outcome. We could say write 10 songs. That's a measurable outcome. But here we're going to say okay, it's a habit so we're going to say um for three months you're going to write you. You're going to go through your songwriting routine every day for three months um they say it takes on average sixty six days to make a habit automatic. So if you do this for ninety days and you do it every day then it should become automatic for your brain. Of course it varies there. You know.

16:52.61

Tryggvi

Okay.

17:05.53

eyvindur

Sixty six days is the average. It could take a lot longer but you know that's ah at least that's ah, a very solid goal to shoot for so that's how we measure it is just by doing it every day and not skipping a single day. Um, and.

17:05.63

Tryggvi

Um, yeah.

17:22.50

eyvindur

The a in smarter sense for actionable which means so how how do we accomplish this goal and what are the logical steps and again this is just ah, what? What we? What we need to start by doing is to ah define your routine and set aside a time for it. It's gonna be a lot easier if you do it at the same time every day. Ah and and then then just do it so this is a very actionable goal. So we're we're good that we check that box. Ah relevant is the next one not risky relevant. Um, so. Ah, relevance. Ah, the the key there is to set a goal. That's that you need to be focusing on right now you know there are a lot of good goals. There are no wrong or right goals but goals can be. More or less relevant for you. So ah, if you if you would set a goal now to set up a tour that wouldn't be relevant for you because your long-term goal now is to to get the album done and to to get more songs out there. So this is a very relevant goal for you because it's going to allow you to reach your long-term goals as we've already gone through and ah time based ah so this is definitely time based because it's a daily habit. So that's the time and and and three month daily habit and you're going to set aside time at the same time every day preferably to to work on it. So it's definitely time based now the yeah so that's the smart framework basically and the other the extra 2 letters are for exciting and risky. And those are what I think make it even better. So the exciting is you know, does it align with your why and your why is to you know set everything up so that you are better equipped to reach your long-term goals. Ah, and do you get excited when you think about. What it means to you what this goal means to you? awesome.

19:37.70

Tryggvi

Oh my God Yes like what got me into music in the beginning was songwriting so like I've I've never been much of a musician in and the other sense of the word like I've always been the creative person like I've always been the one like when I.

19:44.12

eyvindur

Right.

19:56.81

Tryggvi

When I learned 3 chords and I could like I could actually put a song together then like okay I'm good I don't need to learn anything more like like I just want to make songs. Yeah, totally.

20:02.10

eyvindur

Yeah, 3 chords and the truth. That's all you need So awesome and the last one is Risky. Ah, and that is you know is this stretching your comfort zone. Is it. It can't be too easy if the goal is too easy then it's like it's not going to.. It's not gonna keep you excited right? And great.

20:25.89

Tryggvi

Yeah, and it definitely is stretching my my limits in every respect like it's it's going to be such such a challenge challenge for my 88 d brain as well. So just.

20:38.48

eyvindur

Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, um, so I think that ah you know this is ah it's a very very doable goal. But it's it's stretching you and it's ah it's a.

20:42.61

Tryggvi

Stop procrastinating.

20:55.82

eyvindur

Just a perfect goal for where you are right now and so it's it's great for that and you know if if we were I recommend setting a few goals but this is great for your songwriting and then you know you could set other goals for your for the rest of your life as well. But so we've got this goal so the the goal is to set up a songwriting routine and do it every single day for ninety days so um we're gonna um, we're gonna go through all the steps that you need to take to do that. So um. First of all, do you have a songwriting space.

21:39.70

Tryggvi

Um, I am working on setting it up. So like I live in ah in a like quite quite a tiny apartment and so like 1 of the one of the things about writing has been that like I I've been lacking.

21:42.83

eyvindur

Okay.

21:48.65

eyvindur

Right.

21:59.19

Tryggvi

Ah, creative space like I've been lacking in kind of like I feel like I'm just doing everything in the same spot and so like it just feels like and like that that also like takes away my attention. So like I'm kind of like oh I haven't done what this is and like and I like go from from my guitar to that and Like. So I'm working on putting up a corner here where like where I have all the um, all the strongriding gear and it's kind of and and like all the recording stuff as Well. So I can um and which doesn't face anything else. So So that's kind of like so I can like so I have like.

22:29.20

eyvindur

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's a good.

22:38.92

Tryggvi

Also like I'm putting on the wall like some inspirations like even though I'm not waiting so like I'm not waiting for the inspiration anymore. But like I'm still like I'm putting up things that will like rather push myself to keep on going instead of facing the direction and doing something else.

22:53.44

eyvindur

Yeah I think motivation like having motivation around is is great. Yeah, ah you know and I always recommend that people have like positive affirmations in front of them when.

22:58.23

Tryggvi

So up Yes, motivation That's that's what it is yeah.

23:09.59

Tryggvi

Yeah, that's that's what I'm working on now like putting things like like putting up a corner where like where I have all that and it doesn't face doesn't face the kitchen or or yeah or something that like that could actually take away. Um.

23:12.21

eyvindur

You know in their songwriting space. Yeah.

23:19.72

eyvindur

The dishes. Yeah.

23:27.86

Tryggvi

Take away my motivation and my um, my attention.

23:31.35

eyvindur

that's excellent so that's I think a very good first step is to just designate that space to you know and and make sure that it's like a happy place. That's a very ah good because the brain is going to then associate that space with.

23:36.52

Tryggvi

Yeah.

23:49.20

eyvindur

Creativity the more you the more you do it and I know you sometimes write morning pages which I always think is great for creativity. You should probably do that in the same space. So for anybody out there who doesn't know ah morning pages is's a part of.

23:54.70

Tryggvi

Um, yes, yeah, sure.

24:06.92

eyvindur

Ah, book called the artist's way that I recommend that every single creative person read and I'll put a link to that in the show notes. So ah so set up a space and then find the time so time is number two. That's step number 2 ah. Is there a time during the day. That's you know, good on most days to to do this? Okay, all right.

24:29.79

Tryggvi

Yes, definitely And so like I'm like um I think that like because like I I will do the morning pages in the mornings and like I have a couple of mornings off and like and I've figured like oh maybe that's the time but like no um.

24:40.26

eyvindur

Yeah.

24:48.11

Tryggvi

I'm going to do it in the afternoon. Um, after the finish work which is also like it's I've I've realized now that like that's that's like that's ah, that's a time that like that I haven't been like I haven't been utilizing that time at all. So like it's It's the it's It's the time that like.

25:03.70

eyvindur

Ray.

25:07.96

Tryggvi

Feel like I should just be oh like now just need to relax but like my way of relaxing is actually the same as you know as when my creative output is and like is the most So like I'm thinking I should definitely use that time and I come home I'm gonna sit down in my creative space and.

25:16.60

eyvindur

Yeah.

25:27.87

Tryggvi

I'm realizing now it's like oh my God That's that's such a perfect time to do it. So yeah I've I've I've actually been I've been putting a lot of thought into this lately like so like how do I do this? How do I accomplish it.

25:31.75

eyvindur

Yeah, it is. Great. That's fantastic. Yeah, yeah, So I think that's you know and and I actually recommend just um, writing it down write it on your calendar like in your Google Calendar or if you have a ah. Paper planner or whatever I I do my planning on paper because I I like that. Um so I write down these things and and and it's It's just great to have it written down This is like a sacred time of course life happens and you you. There will be times when you won't be able to do it at that time that's inevitable and you have to prepare for that. Ah, the trick there is to if you know ahead of time that okay I'm going to have to go be somewhere at this time then try to figure out ahead of time So when can I to what's. Spot during my day can I move my songwriting session. Um, and if something comes up Unexpectedly, then you know try to figure out can I do it later can I or something you know and you know it it very well might happen that there will be days when it's just not possible. But. Ah, just be honest with yourself whether it's that or if it's just your procrastination That's pushing it out of the way you know because that is and again just sit down and go through the routine if you're just really not feeling up to up for it. Just sit down and go through the routine and we're gonna go through that next. Ah. But so the time you've you've set the set aside the time now the routine and we've gone I go through this in a lot more detail in my in my online course but um, and and yeah I think you've you've already gone through those lessons right? Yeah so ah.

27:29.41

Tryggvi

Yeah.

27:34.28

eyvindur

Basically what you want to do is set a very detailed step-by-step routine that you're going to go through and again this is all about training your brain to get into the into the creative Mode So have you thought about this what your routine. Like the the beginning like how do you get yourself into a songwriting mood have you thought about that.

27:53.97

Tryggvi

Um, like like not really more specifically than just like than than actually just sitting down in that um, specific place at that specific time and like just just being in that motivational. Um.

28:14.10

eyvindur

Right? so.

28:13.40

Tryggvi

Um, space. So like that's kind of I haven't gone any further than that that like that that this is how it how it starts.

28:18.41

eyvindur

So right? Well I mean that's a good start. Yeah I mean that's a good. That's a good start I kind of like um, just having like setting a rule of okay when I sit down with my guitar I just play. That's just the start of my session is I sit down I like grab a guitar ah or I mean it could be another instrument but for me, it's it's almost always the guitar and just playing some scales playing some chords. Not really thinking about. What I'm playing or and just just playing for you know four or five minutes just playing just warming up my fingers warming up my musical brain and then either listening to a song that I've been working on or playing a song that I've been working on. Those things really get me into a creative mode and and they sort of and and also I mean just singing a song that I like whether it's my own or a cover just playing and singing a song without you know, like not being like not pressuring myself to be creative right? away.

29:32.17

Tryggvi

Yeah.

29:34.54

eyvindur

I think is a very gentle way to ease into the creative mode. So you know those are sort of things that I that I would recommend but there are a lot of different things that you could do as well. Um, you know, ah there are. You could it it all depends on like how your creative mind works because you know I'm I'm pretty visual so I like looking at images when I'm creating. Um and so that that kind of gets me going a little bit so maybe ah, that's something that could work if you. Have ah an art website that you like looking at or or something like that. You know that's something that works. Um, the main thing is not to go on Youtube because that's going to get stuck there. Ah but yes yes I think we all have.

30:27.20

Tryggvi

Pin there done that.

30:32.22

eyvindur

Um, but you know it's it's all about finding this these 3 4 steps before you actually start to try to write music that just get you going. You know it's the same as I talked about before the. Going to the gym and putting on your gym clothes chances are you're going to go and work out because you're already there and you're wearing the clothes so you've done the hard part which is to just get to the place and I think that picking up an instrument and warming up your hands and your. Voice. That's the hard part. So if you get into the habit of doing this every day at roughly the same time It's just that is going to make it infinitely more easy to easier is the word isn't it. Um.

31:12.75

Tryggvi

Definitely.

31:28.50

eyvindur

To to do this, you know? ah so that's the that's the third step that you need to take is to just just start doing it like like write it down on a piece of paper put that in your songwriting space like the steps that you're going to take.

31:43.22

Tryggvi

Ah.

31:47.47

eyvindur

And and then just show up every day and and and do those you know 3 4 things or whatever they are and and and then you know then try to write and you know of course I I have ah the the system that I've that you've already. That you already have as a part of my course that that does have step by step things to help you mine for ideas which you can use. But then again, you know that's that's for use when nothing's. Happening by itself and chances are that the more you do this the more things just come to you without any effort does that make sense. Yeah.

32:31.14

Tryggvi

Totally and like I I already know like just just through this talk right now I've already realized like those visual things and those like like those things that I can use like um I just realized when you talked about you being visual and then like.

32:42.12

eyvindur

Yeah, okay.

32:50.12

Tryggvi

Yeah, like that's what I am too and like um like I started drawing and doing paintings in Covid So like something that I like my brother has always been an artist but like I could never draw to save my life but then suddenly I was like oh.

32:59.39

eyvindur

Right.

33:05.67

eyvindur

Yeah.

33:08.95

Tryggvi

I want to do this and I'm like and I'm going to and starting doing that. So like I'm like oh I can actually use my visual art to help me in in that. Um, so that that's that Stefan is something that I'm I'm going to unite those things and and and like realizing now that like.

33:15.14

eyvindur

Yeah, yes, absolutely.

33:27.32

Tryggvi

Ah I can actually use those things together. They can actually help you know each other. So.

33:30.42

eyvindur

Yes, of course it's all you know there's um, you know creativity is is a 3 dimensional thing you know and so ah, you know there's there aren't really milestones per se in this. Which you know if you if you're going for ah, an achievement based goal or an outcome based goal then you'd have milestones this is just showing up and doing the work. But um, but there are I guess you know the milestones are just week by week day by day I mean this is you know i. If if you're going through recovery for an addiction then you take things 1 step at a time one day at a time you know, ah 1 hour at a time if you have to to me this is because I have ah full disclosure been going through recovery for food addiction and ah. And it's very much just one day at a time one meal at a time and it's gotten me thinking that this is kind of the same thing because procrastination is a form of addiction. Um, and or you know it's it's an aversion I guess the the. Correct way to say it is that addiction is a form of aversion. It's an avoidance of dealing with things and procrastination is the same same thing. so um so I think it's it's important to celebrate your wins and. Do that like every day or every week just think of things that you can do to reward yourself. You know, especially after the three months you should definitely do something very nice for yourself. I'm a big proponent of self-care I think that we should all be getting massages lathering ourselves with creams and potions and ah you know soaking in hot tubs anything that we can do to make ourselves feel good and special.

35:25.44

Tryggvi

Ah.

35:41.39

eyvindur

So I think it's very important to think of a few things that you can do you know whether you do it once per month once per week or whatever just celebrate those milestones in this three month journey and then at the end find something really special and I'm not going to put too much pressure on you now I mean if there are things that you can think of right off the top of your head that you. Been wanting to do or waiting to do then then you should definitely write them down right now and you can tell us if you want but you know think of as many as you can is there something that you can think of right away.

36:04.17

Tryggvi

Her.

36:12.34

Tryggvi

Ah, no, no like not at the top of my head but um.

36:15.46

eyvindur

All right, no pressure. But but definitely you know? Ah, if if there's and it again it it shouldn't have to be something that's expensive to do or something that it's certainly shouldn't be something that's unhealthy to do but um. But just something that makes you feel good and that makes you feel special and that makes the achievement even more special once you've gotten there so that's something that is homework for you is to just write down a few things and you know again. This is what twelve weeks if you can think of 12 things like you know and it can be the same like you know every week that you've been successful. You're going to do a certain something and then at the end of three months you're can do something extra special like I don't know we go have a full body deep tissue massage and it a spa day or something. Yeah.

36:55.16

Tryggvi

Yeah, um, yeah.

37:06.47

Tryggvi

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking of ah no, but um, like like this also like this really resonates with me because like you know I did the art this way book as well like I I did that like ah some some years ago and there's like ah because.

37:11.73

eyvindur

Yeah, it's. Yeah.

37:20.23

eyvindur

Yeah.

37:26.70

eyvindur

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

37:25.33

Tryggvi

Always talks about taking care of your artist taking care of your creative person and like that's always been to me like the key to self-care and like I did I did those steps when I was when I was actually going through a burnout as a teacher. So um.

37:38.40

eyvindur

Yeah.

37:43.62

Tryggvi

So self-care since then has always been a big part of of my life and like and I also like I'm a big believer in that and and that like you should always make yourself feel good about your accomplishments and like sometimes you don't even realize you're you're accomplishing something and you're actually like.

38:03.92

eyvindur

Yeah.

38:03.55

Tryggvi

There are and you'recompassing your goals. But that's that's also one of the reasons why I think it's so important to to celebrate that like because this makes the the accomplishment or the ah or the the goal like more like like it's more like it's there like you can um. You can actually feel that that you've actually done it and like you're celebrating that and that makes it more real more attainable more like like you're holding it and I like that I really like that and that just like that's something that I've like I've actually been doing that like so I will continue.

38:26.56

eyvindur

Yeah, absolutely.

38:38.52

eyvindur

Yeah, yeah I mean I think it's It's just absolutely key if you want to accomplish anything you have to give yourself credit for the accomplishment because otherwise there's no motivation.

38:42.26

Tryggvi

Making an effort to do that and.

38:51.87

Tryggvi

Yes, definitely That's the.

38:57.96

eyvindur

So um, so write that down and I have it you know and and like have have the end goal in mind like oh yes, if I if I keep you know this is what I'm going to get this is what I'm going to allow myself to do and it's going to feel wonderful and you know and I've been through Burnout as well. So That's you know, um, it's not fun. Um, so you know you should never put too much pressure on yourself, but you should also put some pressure in yourself because otherwise nothing Happens. So.

39:17.18

Tryggvi

Nope.

39:24.20

Tryggvi

Like pressure is good but like you but like it's just just as important to to like the reward is just as as as important and like when you just put pressure and there's no reward and there's like there's nothing and like you just like just pushing yourself pushing yourself pushing yourself.

39:41.67

eyvindur

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

39:43.72

Tryggvi

And like that's kind of like that's the mistake I made that's why that's really why I burned out like.

39:48.30

eyvindur

Yeah, yeah, you know I I use exercise metaphors a lot. That's why my website is called strongwriting ah and you know if you if you lift weights then you put a lot of pressure on your muscle and then you rest.

39:54.24

Tryggvi

Ah.

40:07.59

eyvindur

And the rust and the muscle heals and rebuilt itself and that's how you get stronger. But if you have constant pressure then you're going to tear your muscle and you're going to hurt yourself a lot. So it's all about balance. It's all about relaxation and healing and you know, ah yeah, keeping things.

40:08.47

Tryggvi

Ah.

40:16.78

Tryggvi

Ah.

40:27.31

eyvindur

Balanced. So ah, we have your your goal now your smarter goal which is 30 no not thirty ninety days of ah ah you know going through a songwriting routine and you've.

40:26.36

Tryggvi

Totally.

40:46.39

eyvindur

You know and doing it every day at roughly the same time and you are setting up a space and you've set aside a time and I've given you some ideas for your how to structure your routine so that it becomes habitual. And automatic. You know that's really the key to any any kind of change is automaticity to make these things as automatic as brushing your teeth before bed. It's just something that you do ah and I do recommend.

41:16.46

Tryggvi

Yeah.

41:24.28

eyvindur

Ah, for anybody who's interested and you you might want to check this book out. There's this book called Atomic Habits which is all about like how to like do these little micro changes that help you build habits and that's why I focus a lot on the on the little steps in the routine.

41:28.88

Tryggvi

Okay.

41:42.54

eyvindur

Because the routine itself is kind of a big thing but sitting down and picking up a guitar. That's very small and you know playing a few things. That's very small so just focus on the tiny steps. Not the big jumps I think that's a key here. So ah.

41:57.35

Tryggvi

Um, yeah.

42:02.00

eyvindur

What I want to do is I want to you know we're we're going to go through this and obviously I'm gonna be there. Ah for this for you and and will be in constant touch over the next 30 ah 90 days and I don't know why I keep saying it's I don't know it's.

42:13.62

Tryggvi

Oh 30 is too easy. Ah.

42:20.33

eyvindur

Keeps trying to say ninety days and three months at the same time and it turns into 30 ah then 30 minutes no um and and then I want to bring you back and you know go over how this has been going and your next steps. Okay sound good.

42:21.53

Tryggvi

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

42:35.40

Tryggvi

Yes, yeah, totally and merics I'm very excited.

42:39.88

eyvindur

Awesome! Thank you so much my friend so am I and I can't wait to see and hear the songs that you're going to be creating three months from now. So ah, thank you so much for for doing this and for opening yourself up and being here. Ah I can't wait for your album. In may I'm holding you to that and yes, yes, exactly ah, but for anybody listening where should they go to watch for that album so they can get it when it comes out.

42:57.92

Tryggvi

Yes, like like that now there's there's a bit of pressure and there will be that reward at the end. So um.

43:12.66

Tryggvi

Oh um, I have I have a Facebook page and I have an Instagram page as well and I also um, like quite recently I made a meta website also like where you can get on my mailing list and if you.

43:18.42

eyvindur

Okay.

43:26.24

eyvindur

Yes, so.

43:29.54

Tryggvi

Ah, write yourself down on that mailing list. You will will get. You'll get hats up like um before everyone else so I would definitely recommend you going to ah http://tricklemusic.com and and put yourself on the mailing list. Yes.

43:36.41

eyvindur

Yeah, okay.

43:42.49

eyvindur

Okay, cool and I'll put links to all of these of course. Awesome.

43:48.52

Tryggvi

And then I'm also on like all the rest like Facebook and Instagram and and Bandcamp and and all the rest.

43:51.88

eyvindur

Yeah, yes, wonderful. So thanks so much and I'll see you next time.

43:57.67

Tryggvi

Thank you very much. Thank you for having me.