Making Time to Write

Aside from writer’s block, many authors come across the same dilemma: there simply isn’t enough time in a day to write… or is there? Finding time to write is less about making more time appear, rather, it’s about using the time that we have effectively. It’s about building productive habits to make the most of the time that you have. Modern life is rife with distractions, especially the new and exciting projects that grab our attention. These new ideas can seem more fun than the old ones, but they lead to several projects being started that remain incomplete. While it may take a feat of magic to make more time in a day, it only takes a few adjustments to our schedules to use that time more meaningfully. 

The first thing you’ll want to do is evaluate your priorities. Ask yourself what are the most important things in your life. The commitments you’ve made are the framework of your schedule since they’re the things you can’t back out of. Once you know where the bulk of your time is going, your next step is to figure out how to arrange your day (or week, or month) so that your commitments work together. Your priorities dictate the choices you make in your life, whether it’s the food you eat or the ways you spend your time. With these priorities in mind, you can start to draft a plan that safeguards your commitments while still giving you time to write. 

Don’t be afraid to try something new. Your plan may require you to completely change your schedule, and you won’t know if something will work until you try. Maybe this entails waking up early so you can do your writing over a cup of coffee. Perhaps, instead, it may call for a few hours in the evening for you to unwind and get your thoughts out before bed. Get creative.

Once you have a plan, it’s important to stick to it. A plan is useless if you don’t see it through. Good intentions can be a starting point, but they don’t get your work done. The only thing that will write your book is you. 

There are tips and tricks for facilitating your plan. We live in an age of automation, so use that to your advantage. If you have the means, consider automating and delegating what you can. Maybe that means you shear off minutes from your morning by setting a timer for your coffee pot and filling the water and grounds the night before. Consider getting a robot vacuum cleaner so you can spend less time doing household chores… and you can spend that time writing instead! 

Time is a precious commodity, so make the most of it.