Writing a book can be an intimidating task. Blank pages can stare at you mockingly for long hours that turn into days, weeks, and months before you make headway in your next chapter.
That is, of course, unless you work out a plan that has you making progress daily on your book. In fact, writing a book can help you manage your time more wisely and encourage productivity on multiple fronts. Here are a few things you can do to make more progress in shorter time when writing your book.
Consider Using the Pomodoro Technique When Writing
The Pomodoro technique is one in which you set a timer to promote short bursts of intense productivity. This method is effective because you operate in 25-minute increments. Set a timer for 25 minutes. During that period of time, focus on one single task. In this case, that task would be writing your book. Whether you’re blocking out a chapter or simply writing an outline for the next chapter(s). You don’t stop for anything other than house-fire types of emergencies until the timer rings.
Then you take a five-minute break before moving on to the next task, or chapter, as the case may be. After every four short breaks, you take a longer break. This gives you time to clear your mind, charge your battery, and refocus on the work ahead of you for the day. This is a key component in your efforts to stay focused on writing your book and stop splitting focus by multi-tasking and otherwise spinning your wheels all day long.
Prioritize Your Tasks
You have a lot on your plate on any given day. It can be easy to get caught up in minute tasks and quickly lose time to write during your day. The longer this continues, the more time you have to forget what’s going on with your book or abandon your book altogether. Steady progress is a much better way to go. Accomplish this by doing the following:
- Give up television time to write.
- Cut out unnecessary social media socializing.
- Get up early or stay up late to make time for writing.
- Set deadlines for getting specific writing done, then adhere to them. This can include deadlines for chapter outlines and chapter delivery. Editing deadlines. First draft. Second draft. Publishing. You get the picture.
Plan Your Writing Schedule
Determine how much time you will spend writing each day and schedule in your calendar the same way you would schedule a doctor’s appointment. Your book is a priority and it deserves a place on your schedule. Hold yourself accountable and stick to your writing plan.
If you need help figuring out a schedule, I will give you an exact writing plan to get a 35,000-word book written in just 32 days. Go here to sign-up for my masterclass and get my 32 Day Book Writing Blueprint for FREE.
Learn to Say NO (and mean it!)
You need to set limits and boundaries – period. Not just for your writing but for your sanity. You can’t be everything to everyone – this is what causes burnout and potential health problems if your stress becomes chronic.
Your book is a meaningful project and it is for YOU. You need to respect that if you want others to respect it. Refuse opportunities that will take up too much of your time. If helping your friend paint her bathroom isn’t something you have time for, you need to say no. If the thought of volunteering to bake 100 cupcakes for your neighborhood bake sale is making your head spin, then say no this time.
You can’t be involved in every activity and you can’t attend every single event that comes up. It doesn’t mean you can’t participate or help in the future but for right now, the answer has to be no. Your book is important – if you don’t treat it that way, then you will never write it.
While it may sound intimidating at first, you will see that once you start practicing saying no, you may actually like how it feels. It is empowering to put your needs first. You are sending a message to yourself that completing your book is an important milestone in your life that takes priority and must get done. When you believe your book is important enough to write, you WILL write it.
Practice Self-Care
Believe it or not, time management and productivity are profoundly impacted by an unhealthy lifestyle and poor self-care. Do you think you’ll be inspired to write a transformational book after hitting the drive-thru and munching on a double cheese burger, fries and onion rings?
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with indulging in fun foods every once in a while, but if it has become a regular part of your lifestyle, it may be playing a role in your productivity and even creativity.
Take a good look at your current lifestyle – do you exercise regularly? Do you eat healthy meals 70% to 80% of the time? Do you feel comfortable in your own skin? Are you exhausted, stressed and sleeping poorly on most days?
If any of those resonate, then you are in need of a self-care overhaul.
Start small. Pick one healthy thing you can do each day for the next week and commit to doing it. It can be as little as just adding one piece of fruit or veggie to your diet each day. Or going for a 10-minute walk after dinner. Or instead of the drive-thru check out the local smoothie shop and try one of those instead.
If you just make one small change per day, guess what will happen? You will naturally start to make other healthy changes without any effort at all. You will actually WANT to make the changes all on your own. For no other reason than, it feels good. It really is a magical process – I’ve experienced it many times.
Before you know it, YOU will start to be a priority. The result will be feeling better, looking better, sleeping better and ultimately, more quality productivity and motivation to write.
Try it for yourself, even if it’s just to prove me wrong. 😉
Create an Inspirational Writing Zone
Attempting to write in a space that is a cluttered mess will only produce more stress, anxiety, and frustration around the writing process. This leads to and encourages procrastination. Luckily, there is an easy fix – clear a small space for you to write and make it your own.
You don’t need a separate office or anything fancy – just a place where you feel comfortable and it inspires you to write. It could be a traditional desk, small nook in your kitchen, cozy chair in the corner with your laptop or even in your closet (yes, I know people who have done this).
Whatever space you choose – clear it of any clutter. For example, if your desk is a mess, clear off the junk, wipe off the dust and organize everything on it – less is more. If your cozy chair in the corner is surrounded by stacks of old magazines, laundry, toys and unopened mail from the past week – clear it out.
I do suggest keeping one or two small trinkets around your writing space that you find calming e.g., a pretty candle, small Zen garden, etc.
Here is an example from own desk. It’s a little painted rock that makes me smile every time I see it – it reminds me of the joy that I want to bring to others by my writing.
Clearing your space and getting rid of unnecessary clutter does wonders for your psyche – it imparts a calming effect on your mind and helps you feel more peaceful. When you feel calm and relaxed you unblock the creative flow and increase your motivation to write. You will be less likely to procrastinate and more likely to enjoy your writing time in your special writing zone.
Turn Off Distractions and Set Boundaries
Don’t write with the television on, turn your phone off, log off Facebook, and close your email. Let the people around you know that unless there is an emergency, you are not to be disturbed for the next hour (or however long you are allotting to write).
You will be surprised by how much you can get done when your focus is 100% devoted to your writing. No, it isn’t going to be easy at first but once you try it and see the results it will get easier.
There are many tips and tricks to improve your time management and increase your productivity – these are just some of the best and most effective ones I have tried. You don’t have to do all of them – just pick ONE that really resonates with you and use that. It may be all you need to finally put pen to paper and get your book written!
