“I don’t have enough time to write” is a myth. That sort of fixed-mindset thinking will stop you from ever writing.

We all have 24 hours in a day. While some of us struggle to find time to work on our writing goals, others can write consistently despite their busy schedules.

Why is that?

Part of what makes one person successful is their strong time management skills and mindset around having enough time.

Time for writing isn’t found, it’s made. 

In this blog post, you’ll learn 3 practical ways to make time for writing.

Crafting a consistent writing practice will help you make strides toward your writing goals. 

Waiting for free time to show up so that you can use it to write will not work. 

We humans can add constant busy work to our schedules, taking over any free time we might have had.

You need to be the boss of your schedule.

Rather than allow time to fill up with every “must-do” task in an urgent manner, rather than allowing time to slip away, you are in charge of making writing time a priority and fitting it into the schedule that you create for yourself.

How will you do that?

Use these 3 strategies as guides to help you along the way.

Generally speaking, the middle of our day is when we’re busiest. We have work, school, appointments and social gatherings to attend.

Mornings or evenings can often be the best times to squeeze in a writing session.

Waiting until you’ve put the kids down for the night or getting up before the rest of your household can provide a distraction-free time for writing.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Avoiding the chaos of our busy days and aligning our writing schedules with our most creative times can be a surefire way to stay motivated when we face a writing block.

Unsure when the best time is for you to write?

Check out this article from Medium that includes a short quiz to help you determine when you’re most creative. Have fun!

Your writing blocks will now be treated as nonnegotiable meetings. 

Consider how often you can realistically write to remain consistent.

Is it every day? 2 times a week? 3 times a month?

To figure this out, grab a monthly calendar and block off all your non-negotiable times – work, commuting, etc. 

Determine how much of the open time you can assign to your writing.

Plan specifically when you will write across the weeks and months ahead.

Start with 30-minute sessions for now.

Look for the spaces where you’re less likely to be interrupted.

Put those writing blocks on your calendar. You’ve committed to them.

And so you won’t forget, use a digital scheduling tool like Google Calendar or your phone, a place where you can send yourself reminders.

You’re going to make it as easy as possible for you to get to writing during that time.

Remember, it’s a serious non-negotiable appointment with yourself and your WIP.

If a major event occurs and you have to miss a session, you need to reschedule.

Don’t abandon it.

Prove to yourself that writing is an important event in your schedule.

Read this article for 4 further strategies on maintaining a consistent writing habit.

Take a look at all of your current commitments. Some of them, like work, will be non-negotiables. 

Yet, there are often others that we might want to consider pausing, stopping or, if we have the means, delegating to another.

Some of us are so creative that we have multiple personal projects underway at the same time. 

Perhaps working on less will make it easier for you to dedicate time to your writing.

You’ll need to say “no” to other opportunities, to invites that take over your writing block.

If writing is a priority, it needs to stay that way.

Consider how much of your week is spent on time-wasters – Social media scrolling and overwatching TV.

How many episodes of a show can you watch before you’re only half paying attention? For me, that’s 2.

Is that really a great use of your time?

Breaks are important!

But, removing unintentional time-wasters may be the key to getting back the time you’ve lost for your writing practice.

To make writing a priority, you’ll need to set clear boundaries with yourself and others.

Ensure those in your household know that you’re not to be interrupted during your writing blocks.

Let friends know you won’t be available to socialize then.

And stop feeling guilty for taking the time you need to write!

If it fills you up, then it’s an important part of your life. Give your writing the space it needs to blossom.

Despite scheduling your writing sessions, there may be days when it doesn’t work out. We aren’t looking for perfection, just consistency. 

So, no need to feel guilty when it’s not so easy to stick to your schedule at first. The more often you enact this habit, the easier it’ll become.

James Clear states that it can take more than 2 months for a habit to become automatic.

Remember that on the days when sticking to your schedule is difficult.

Giving up will get you nowhere.

Trying and then trying again will bring you incrementally closer to writing consistently.

Your task for today?

Open your calendar and block off one writing session during the week ahead.

Commit to it. See how it goes.

And keep on refining your habit!

What time have you set aside for writing?

Share in the comments.

Talk soon!

Julia