Work commitments, family, friends- just life in general- tend to easily push our writing goals way down the to-do list. But, a writer without time to write feels unfulfilled day after day. 

Deciding that you’ll just get around to writing when you have time, won’t work! Trust me, to-do lists never disappear. There’s always one more thing that could be done when you find a few free moments in your day.

So, how can you ensure that you are dedicating time every week to your creative writing?

Today, I will walk you through my weekly reset routine- a tool you can use to set up a weekly plan to block out writing time and stick to it. This reset routine is part reflection on the past week, part refreshing, and part scheduling for the week ahead. Together, this trifecta makes it easy for me to consistently spend time writing guilt-free. Let’s get started!

Writing a manuscript is a ginormous goal. Leave that sitting in front of you and you might feel the need to procrastinate. Or, you’ll have no idea where to begin.

That’s why whittling down our goals into manageable chunks is necessary. Each week a writer needs to schedule time to reflect on where they are at and what they need to do next to continue moving forward with their creative passion. 

A weekly reset routine catered towards writers is an excellent way to do this!

You’ll be able to center your creative writing goals within the busy daily and weekly schedules that you already have. Why? Because you’re committing to dedicating time to this task.

You are taking actionable steps that demonstrate to your writer’s brain that this task is just as important as your weekly house cleaning routine and the meetings that you schedule each week.

A weekly reset is a routine that allows you to properly end the week (reflection time) and prepare for the week ahead (planning time). It is a time to reflect on your goals and determine what you will spend your time accomplishing in the coming week. 

When we spend time actively planning our future tasks, we are more likely to accomplish them. Imagine having a to-do list in front of you from the night before vs. waking up in the morning, preparing to rush to work, and then asking yourself on the fly when you have extra time what you should do. Which version of you do you think will accomplish your goals? Which version of you is likely to end up scrolling through your phone?

This isn’t about planning every small detail out. We still need to be flexible and that would be overwhelming anyway. However, planning out your major goals and must-dos can counteract some of your day-to-day stress.

Many people use a weekly reset routine on Sundays as they prepare for the work week. From doing laundry to meal prepping and preparing Monday lesson plans, as a teacher, I already had a weekly reset in place before I even considered that the routine I’d unconsciously created served my job but not me- a writer.

Many of those routines are important and still necessary. But, as a writer who is committing to consistently working on their craft, curating a weekly reset for your goals can benefit your resilience.

As for when to do a weekly reset. It doesn’t need to be on Sundays. Whatever day you consider to be the last day of your week will do! Whatever time you feel can be easily carved out to reflect and plan.

Some people spend hours on their reset routine. It doesn’t need to be this long. If it feels like a chore then you’ll probably struggle to maintain this routine. So, choose the tasks that’ll work for you. This weekly reset is a guide. Curate it for you.

Take a few minutes to reset your workspace. Maybe, that’s the desk, office space, or cozy chair where you do much of your writing. Free yourself of last week’s clutter- both physical and digital. 

I like to put my books, pens, and laptop in their homes. Give everything a wipe-down and use a little room spray from Saje. Your writing environment should feel inviting. If it’s chaotic and overwhelming then you’re gonna struggle to want to sit down and get some writing done. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m less likely to organize my space during the work week so the day before is perfect!

Pull out your journal, your notepad, or whatever digital platform you’re using for writing. This is your chance to reflect on your accomplishments (big and small) from the past week as well as consider what didn’t necessarily work. It can be a quick scribble- messy and tossed out afterward or written to keep in a journal. However, speaks to you.

Consider asking yourself these questions:

1. What went well?
2. What was tricky?
3. What was left undone?
4. Considerations for the week ahead?

Self-reflection is important!

Not only does it help you clarify where you’re at and where to go next as you move toward your goals, but putting your metacognitive skills to use allows you to reroute and take time to refine strategies and routines.

Plus, reflecting on even the tiniest of wins helps us to maintain motivation and develop resilience for when we hit a roadblock. What great neuropathways to be strengthening!

Start with a little more reflection: Review your writing goals.

If that’s something large-scale like completing your rough draft, then reflect on where you are right now along the path. Perhaps, you’ve written a couple of chapters but that long-term goal still seems so far away.

Now, it’s time to break down your goal into the next manageable chunk. Some of us write daily but others might need to consider that chunk at a different weekly rate.

Remember to be realistic about how much time you can set aside for writing and then, for good measure consider that some time may be knocked off due to unforeseen changes in your plan. 

There are many ways to define your weekly goals just make sure that it’s specific enough for you to measure by the end of the week. SMART Goals!

You might be someone who likes to track daily or weekly word counts as a goal. You might be a chapter-by-chapter goal-setter or someone who sets scene-specific goals. I like to hit natural scene changes during a writing block. Even better when I pause writing during a high-tension scene that’s easy to dive back into.

So, take a moment and complete this sentence:

Weekly: My writing goal is to [specific task] by [timeframe]. 

Daily: During my writing block, I will spend [timeframe] and will accomplish [specific task].

It’s always a great idea to do a brief self-reflection at the end of each day so you can readjust your plans for tomorrow.

Flexibility is key. Rather than beating ourselves up when we don’t meet our goal, almost everything can be transferred to the next day. You can always try again tomorrow!

I recommend that you start with a brain dump- literally dumping all of your thoughts swirling around in your brain onto paper.

You could type this list out, but I love the feeling of a pen in hand as I messily and quickly jot my ideas onto a piece of scrap paper.

My brain dump tends to include to-do’s for all facets of my life so I can refer back to it and scratch things off as I schedule work, chores, writing and life in general.

I don’t suggest that you brain dump only for writing here, simply because it should be a quick and fluid process. Whatever comes to mind, don’t dismiss it. Write them down and move on!

Once your mind feels clearer and you can’t think of anything else to add to this list, review it with a pen or highlighter in hand.

Now is the time to circle or star the commitments that must be done this week. MuchelleB calls these her non-negotiables. If these things aren’t completed, they will leave you feeling overwhelmed. This may include appointments and projects with an upcoming due date.

These are the first tasks to schedule into your weekly planner or calendar that way you’ll be able to visually see where you have time to work on your writing goals.

Don’t forget to realistically schedule transition time between tasks! Some breathing space to refresh your mind and soul is a must! A crammed calendar is overwhelming to look at and keep up with!

This leads me to scheduling some self-care time. 

I know that this blog post is supposed to be about centering your writing goals through a weekly reset, but I still recommend that you start by scheduling your must-do’s and your self-care time before we even get to writing blocks because we all need some time to refresh, relax, and recenter. 

An artist can’t survive on the hamster wheel and as soon as life gets busy we often throw self-care out the window. So schedule breaks throughout the week- long or short, it doesn’t matter. Take some time to do what makes you feel rejuvenated, whether that’s exercising, reading, gardening or some other task- make time for your body and mind to be quiet. Trust me, your creative soul will thank you!

Step back and take a good look at your schedule. Look for chunks of time where you could realistically focus on your writing tasks. Remember to consider transition time and when you tend to be more energized.

Are you driven in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Try to use that time first. You’ll get a lot more accomplished if you’re not sapped of energy.

How can you schedule writing blocks in and around other commitments? Some writers can write in spurts while on public transit or while taking their kids to after-school clubs. Consider how to make your schedule work for you.

If you have a consistently set schedule, you may be able to maintain a regular writing routine week after week. If not, no worries! We can be flexible each week and write when we find the space (it’s currently 6:30 pm in B.C. and I anticipate only 30 minutes of solid writing time tonight. Yesterday, I did zero writing).

The blocks that you schedule don’t need to be long. I stopped writing for so long because it felt like there just wasn’t enough time for it.

If you struggle with the same concerns, check out my blog post on creating a writing routine with a full-time job to discover how I used short 25-minute writing spurts to complete my current manuscript.

Flow can be found in many scenarios. Maximizing focus during your writing slots is more important than long writing stretches.

Our schedules can look perfect on paper, but we all know that something will most likely set us off track. We’ll surely need to reschedule and readjust throughout our weekly ebbs and flows. 

So, while a weekly to-do list based on your short-term goals is a great starting point, consider it to be a working to-do list. Throughout the week, reflect on where you’re at and redo your to-do list.

Get into the habit of reviewing it each evening and you’ll feel prepared for the day ahead. Even if you’re simply rewriting what you already had planned, future you will be grateful. Remember, your to-do lists are not set in stone. You are allowed to adjust them! Do what will support your success.

Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments each week as well. Acknowledging your small wins keeps you determined to accomplish your greater goals.

Scratching an item off your to-do list feels amazing. So does, a little extra self-care time because you were so focused and in flow during your last writing sprint. Dance it out, sing, or brag to a close friend. Celebrate your creativity.

Consider how you will keep yourself accountable. A schedule won’t magically mean you’ll stick to it. Habits need to be created and it might be a grind for a while. So, consider what supports will allow you to maintain consistency and motivation.

Perhaps, an accountability partner– someone who is also in the process of working on their goals- will keep you motivated. You could reflect on your setbacks and accomplishments together. Hype each other up!

Perhaps, it’s those moments to recognize and celebrate your mini-wins that naturally keep you motivated to write. It’s amusing to watch how excited teachers get when they receive a sticker. A small gold star does wonders at any age!

At the end of each week, you’ll complete this cyclical process again- reflecting on your accomplishments, and your missed goals and revising your plan for the coming week.

A weekly reset may be just what you need to commit to a writing routine and accomplish your creative writing goals. It’s alright to miss a day, find that a habit didn’t work out, and try again tomorrow. Taking steps to reflect on and work toward your goals is a huge win in itself!

Time to Schedule your Weekly Reset!

What routines and habits are you excited to put into place? Let me know what works for you in the comments below.

Need a template to get you started with your weekly planning? Check out Lavendaire’s Ideal Week Planner.

Talk soon!

Julia