One of the best ways to be a productive writer when you work full-time is to examine where your time goes after work. Take stock of your appointments and other obligatory activities. Then assess which of your activities are not essential so that you can carve out some writing times.
For instance, ask yourself how much tv you watch every evening. Then assess how long you spend on the internet or other technological gadgets that waste precious writing time such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Once you have a weekly total, write it down in a prominent place.
Further, take stock of what you do after work. Do you pick up groceries every day? Do you go to the gym every day? Do you go to the mall a lot of the time? Do you vacuum the house every day? Do you dust every day? Do you wash the laundry every day? If you answered any of these questions in the affirmative, then you probably are wasting a lot of time every day—time that you use to write.
For instance, why not shop once or twice a week for groceries. Or, why not go to the gym three times a week instead of every day? On the days you reduce one unnecessary activity, take the time to write for an hour. You could even go to the library instead of the gym and write. That way, you don’t have to negotiate with your family for writing time. Also, you will be more likely to write in a public place where others are working or reading silently. Make sure that you take stock of your life so that you can see gaps where you can be writing instead of wasting your time doing things that won’t pay any dividends in your overall productivity, except possibly stress you out more.
Conversely, do you go to the hairdressers every week. Why not go once a month or every six weeks for a hair cut. Take these two hours a week and write. Or, do you go out for dinner a few times a week. Why not cut that back to once a week? Get some food from the takeout counter of your grocery store or order pizza and write during these times.
Alternatively, you could plan your meals ahead of time. You may want to invest in a crock pot or instant pot and make some easy meals that you can put together in the morning. Chop your meat and veggies the night before. Before you leave for work, put all the ingredients into your crock pot and turn it on. Then when you get home, you can eat a healthy meal, take some time to unwind, and get some writing done.
Your doctor and dental appointments can also take a lot of time out of your week. Therefore, it is important to write them down in your planner and highlight them for the week. That way, you will be able to write around those times.
Also, you may want to take some time out and assess whether all your appointments are necessary. For instance, should you be going to a Weight Watchers meeting three times a week.
Or, do you go to the physiotherapist three times a week when you can be going once and writing for the other two times? You could commit to doing your exercises at home and taking other therapeutic measures to take care of yourself between physio sessions. That way, you can save time and money, and create a bit of time to write. I will say more about how not to waste time even if you have appointments.
Irene S. Roth
For instance, ask yourself how much tv you watch every evening. Then assess how long you spend on the internet or other technological gadgets that waste precious writing time such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Once you have a weekly total, write it down in a prominent place.
Further, take stock of what you do after work. Do you pick up groceries every day? Do you go to the gym every day? Do you go to the mall a lot of the time? Do you vacuum the house every day? Do you dust every day? Do you wash the laundry every day? If you answered any of these questions in the affirmative, then you probably are wasting a lot of time every day—time that you use to write.
For instance, why not shop once or twice a week for groceries. Or, why not go to the gym three times a week instead of every day? On the days you reduce one unnecessary activity, take the time to write for an hour. You could even go to the library instead of the gym and write. That way, you don’t have to negotiate with your family for writing time. Also, you will be more likely to write in a public place where others are working or reading silently. Make sure that you take stock of your life so that you can see gaps where you can be writing instead of wasting your time doing things that won’t pay any dividends in your overall productivity, except possibly stress you out more.
Conversely, do you go to the hairdressers every week. Why not go once a month or every six weeks for a hair cut. Take these two hours a week and write. Or, do you go out for dinner a few times a week. Why not cut that back to once a week? Get some food from the takeout counter of your grocery store or order pizza and write during these times.
Alternatively, you could plan your meals ahead of time. You may want to invest in a crock pot or instant pot and make some easy meals that you can put together in the morning. Chop your meat and veggies the night before. Before you leave for work, put all the ingredients into your crock pot and turn it on. Then when you get home, you can eat a healthy meal, take some time to unwind, and get some writing done.
Your doctor and dental appointments can also take a lot of time out of your week. Therefore, it is important to write them down in your planner and highlight them for the week. That way, you will be able to write around those times.
Also, you may want to take some time out and assess whether all your appointments are necessary. For instance, should you be going to a Weight Watchers meeting three times a week.
Or, do you go to the physiotherapist three times a week when you can be going once and writing for the other two times? You could commit to doing your exercises at home and taking other therapeutic measures to take care of yourself between physio sessions. That way, you can save time and money, and create a bit of time to write. I will say more about how not to waste time even if you have appointments.
Irene S. Roth
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