by Guest Blogger Robbi Hess

Today, as I sat here pondering what to write about I got to thinking... which comes first? Productivity or  motivation. Do they go hand in hand? Does one drive the other, I wonder.

There are days when I am extremely productive even when I don't feel particularly motivated. Then there are days when I feel the opposite. I'm motivated to do something... anything... but am not particularly productive. Sure, on those days I sort my sock drawer, alphabetize my stacks of how-to books and go through my pen drawer and get rid of the ones that no longer appear to have working ink.

I feel motivated to write this blog post and by the time I'm done I'll feel I was productive for having written it, so I guess that counts for something, right? I think so.

What do you do on those days when you just can't get motivated but have a deadline looming? Do you force yourself to sit down and write and will yourself to be productive? Do you procrastinate until the muse strikes or the deadline is an hour away?

What motivates you: Money? The promise of chocolate truffles if you just finish that article? Simply crossing it off your to-do list?

What makes you feel productive?

As a freelance writer, you can't wait for the muse to strike and some days you have to put fingers to keyboard whether you feel motivated or not, right? Even if you don't write for a paycheck what do you  do to keep the words flowing onto the paper? Is it chicken and the egg syndrome?

Personally, writing down my to-do list on a post it and putting in a conspicuous place and crossing items off certainly makes me feel good AND productive at day's end. And some days, having the list staring me in the face when I walk by to brew my coffee motivates me -- whether in a good, "Wow look at all  I have to accomplish today!" or "OMG, how will I EVER get all of that done," way.

Well, I'm off to finish watching the Super Bowl until I get motivated to write more words!