Most writers complain that they never have enough time to write.
Yet they probably have more time than they realize.
They just need to start using their “throwaway time” wisely.
What is "throwaway time"? It’s that time spent doing things that don’t demand all your attention or concentration.
Here are a few examples of throwaway times:
• Time when you’re waiting for your clothes to wash and dry at the laundromat.
• Time you’re waiting for your child while she has a music lesson.
• Even the time you’re walking on your treadmill can be used to complete various small writing tasks.
• Time when you’re standing in line at the grocery store. (Just be sure to bring a small pad of paper and a pen. You could outline an article or blog post.)
• Time waiting for your doctor to come into the office between patients.
You just have to set your mind and intention on what you will focus on.
If you get into the habit of using your "throwaway time" wisely, you’ll see an increase in your writing productivity.
Here are a few things you can do while you have a few free minutes:
• Outline your next magazine article or blog post while you’re waiting for your child’s music lesson.
• Plot out the next chapter of your novel in your head while you’re walking on the treadmill.
• Think up topics for some new magazine articles while your hairdresser is cutting or blow-drying your hair.
Try to use your “throwaway time” wisely for your writing and see what you manage to accomplish. Every moment that you spend writing instead of wasting time can translate into hours of extra writing time, even in a week.
Say you find 15 extra minutes to write every day, even five days a week, that adds up to 75 minutes a week x 4 weeks in a month, and you can write an additional 300 minutes a month (which amounts to 5 extra hours a month!!)
If you then add up those 15 minutes over a year, you will have written a whopping 3,600 additional minutes a year, which is 60 extra hours of writing a year. Imagine how much writing you can do in 60 extra hours.
We all can find these pockets of free time, even those of us who write for clients. Many of us who write for clients stop writing our own books. We don’t really need to do that. We can do our writing and client work with the right planning and mindset.
Try it!
Irene Roth
Yet they probably have more time than they realize.
They just need to start using their “throwaway time” wisely.
What is "throwaway time"? It’s that time spent doing things that don’t demand all your attention or concentration.
Here are a few examples of throwaway times:
• Time when you’re waiting for your clothes to wash and dry at the laundromat.
• Time you’re waiting for your child while she has a music lesson.
• Even the time you’re walking on your treadmill can be used to complete various small writing tasks.
• Time when you’re standing in line at the grocery store. (Just be sure to bring a small pad of paper and a pen. You could outline an article or blog post.)
• Time waiting for your doctor to come into the office between patients.
You just have to set your mind and intention on what you will focus on.
If you get into the habit of using your "throwaway time" wisely, you’ll see an increase in your writing productivity.
Here are a few things you can do while you have a few free minutes:
• Outline your next magazine article or blog post while you’re waiting for your child’s music lesson.
• Plot out the next chapter of your novel in your head while you’re walking on the treadmill.
• Think up topics for some new magazine articles while your hairdresser is cutting or blow-drying your hair.
Try to use your “throwaway time” wisely for your writing and see what you manage to accomplish. Every moment that you spend writing instead of wasting time can translate into hours of extra writing time, even in a week.
Say you find 15 extra minutes to write every day, even five days a week, that adds up to 75 minutes a week x 4 weeks in a month, and you can write an additional 300 minutes a month (which amounts to 5 extra hours a month!!)
If you then add up those 15 minutes over a year, you will have written a whopping 3,600 additional minutes a year, which is 60 extra hours of writing a year. Imagine how much writing you can do in 60 extra hours.
We all can find these pockets of free time, even those of us who write for clients. Many of us who write for clients stop writing our own books. We don’t really need to do that. We can do our writing and client work with the right planning and mindset.
Try it!
Irene Roth
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