Time management tips for newbie writers
I have a junior on my team who recently told me that his resolution to write more this year has already gone awry. He revealed that he had planned to work harder this year and hence took up this resolution. However, in spite of being very upbeat and following time management rules as suggested by his friends he could not achieve his goals. I sympathized with him understanding fully that he is committing the same mistakes that I committed years back.
Time management for writers – a different game altogether
Conventional time management rules do not apply to us. We are writers and need different techniques to boost our productivity. Tips like working on tough projects early in the day and scheduling meetings during afternoons don’t apply to us. Similarly, theories on multitasking or delegating tasks are not meant for us. We need time management tips that address our problems like fighting fatigue or writer’s block, planning, and editing posts and handling clients. I have developed my own time management regime through a lot of struggles. Let me share these with you, the newbie writers who are still learning to cope with the pressures of content writing.
Keep aside blocks of time for writing
If you are an early bird, catch your worm early too. Yes, if you find mornings conducive to your writing, do so. If your creative juices flow at night, let them do so. Organize your day according to your working pattern and get more done. Writing needs a lot of concentration and patience and so you should write whenever you get in the mood.
Let nothing come between you and your work
It’s proven that social media is a spoiler when it comes to time management. Turn off Twitter, FB, and Instagram. Switch off your mobile. If you work from home, ask a family member to answer the doorbell and phone. Request your kids to not disturb you when you work.
Content writers need to refer to multiple resources while writing. Make sure that only the pages you need are open in the browser. Close all other apps to concentrate on your work.
Take care of yourself
Some writers have eccentric habits. They often do not eat or sleep for long to complete their assignments. While I agree that at times we do have to work for long hours but do not make that a habit. Take care of yourself as you need a lot of energy to write. Eat healthily, drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly. It is important to feel fresh when you sit to write.
Leave enough time for yourself
Content writers are often so hounded by their clients that they give every waking hour to their profession. That’s an extremely wrong thing to do. Remember that you need time to rest, rejuvenate yourself, and enjoy yourself with your family. So, no matter how lucrative an offer seems, do not compromise your free time for it. Instead of working long hours, try to follow the above suggestions, and get more done in less time.
As a writer, the free time you enjoy with friends, family, and dedicate to your hobbies is vital to your mental health and productivity too.
Plan your work
This is very important. You should always focus on planning rather than editing at the end. Set aside five minutes to plan every blog and see how fast you finish your assignments.
Finally, writers need to keep on learning. So find time every day to read and improve yourself. That’s it, my friends, I would not lengthen this blog further and take up your time. Do let me know whether these time management tips benefited you so that I can come up with more.
About the author – Koyel Majumder – A writer with an eye for perfection. She is a content writer