We all have the same 24 hours in a day. But it’s what we do with those 24 hours that separates the productive from the unproductive. So how can writers simplify their life so they can find more time to write?
Prioritize
Think of the three most important things in your life. The three things you can’t live without. Now contrast the top three things you spend most of your time doing. Do they match? If not, something is wrong and you need to re-evaluate your priorities and where you are spending your time. If your priorities don’t match your actions, then something has to change. Most likely, if you’re reading this writing is one of your top priorities you don’t spend a lot of time doing. As you re-evaluate where you do spend your time, you need to determine what should go so you can make time for the top priorities on your list.
Make a List of your Have tos
Once you know your priorities, it’s time to make a list of the things you have to do. You know, things like making dinner, paying jobs, carpool, homework, laundry, house work… (okay, for me house work does not fall under the have tos. It’s more like “when I get around to it.”) But you get the idea.
Then find ways to simplify those tasks. Take cooking for example. When I’m in the mood to cook, I bulk cook several different meals at a time and freeze extra for those days when I don’t have time to cook. Then I can pull out the frozen meals and throw them in the crock pot in time for a hot, home-cooked dinner. Some people are more organized and plan for freezer cooking. Whatever your personality, you can simplify your life.
How do you simplify the other have tos? Have your kids do their own laundry and help out more around the house. I’m sure you have some great ways your family is helping to simplify your life so you can write, so don’t forget to share in comments.
Make a Plan or To Do List and FINISH
This one always trips me up. I LOVE to plan, but don’t always follow through with one project to the end. So my life gets complicated by the half a dozen unfinished writing projects and household chores waiting to be finished. How to get around this? I guess I have a high tolerance for mental and physical chaos, but not really, all the “clutter” just robs me of energy, peace, and productivity.
What should I be doing? For me, starting with a short list and giving myself a deadline helps get me focused on task completion and closer to finishing a project. Right now my kitchen, dining room, and office is cluttered with a decluttering project I started LAST weekend. So I’m giving myself until the end of Monday to finish the project or at least box it up and get it out of sight until the next time I plan on working on it.
And take this post. It’s been in my draft folder missing an ending for probably a month (along with half a dozen other drafted posts,) so when I sat down to write I gave myself a deadline to finish the post even if it’s not perfect.
How about you? As interrupted writers we’re always looking for more time. How do you simplify your life so you can write?
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