If you’re distracted…
1. Turn off the electronics.
All of them. (except your laptop if you're using it to write)
A powerful distraction-blocking app called "Freedom" blocks social media, browsing, and notifications on your devices when you program it, to allow you uninterrupted writing time.
The "DND" setting on your phone is also a big help.
If you're authoring on your computer, CLOSE ALL OTHER APPS, besides whatever program you're writing in (word, google docs, etc.)
2. Create a clutter-free space.
Set aside room for writing that helps eliminate distraction. Clean out/off your workspace OUTSIDE of your writing time. If you're like me, you sit down to write, and think "wow, my desk needs to be organized so that I'm not distracted". Nope! That's not the time! Clean your office/workspace some other time, not when you intend to write.
If you know this is part of your process, build in an additional 30 to 45 minutes before your writing time to get your space organized.
3. Establish a strict writing schedule.
Make yourself unavailable to others during your work time. Let friends and family know you're unavailable during the time frame you've set aside to write. Schedule your writing time on your calendar. If you're going to write daily for 2 hours, then block it off on your calendar. Otherwise, you'll end up scheduling appointments, calls, and meetings during that time, and you'll miss out on reaching your goals for the day/week.
4. Also,
Learn to say no.
If you’re exhausted…
Schedule and practice Rest & Recreation.
Forget writing for a while. You’ll be amazed how a little extra sleep renews not just your body, but also your mind and spirit. You’ll soon find yourself inspired by even little things.
Take care of your body. Make exercise part of your schedule, especially after writing for long periods. Long walks, hot showers/baths, quiet car rides can often be places where you can sort out your thoughts and rejuvenate your mind. Even if it's for a few minutes, you'll be surprised just how refreshing a change of scenery can be!
If you’re a perfectionist…
Separate your writing from your editing.
As you write your first draft, take off your perfectionist cap. You can return to editor mode to your heart’s content while revising, but for now, just get the story down.
Separate these tasks and watch your daily production soar.
Remember, done is better than perfect.
You'll have the opportunity to "perfect" it once your story is out of your head and onto the page. To get started (and to finish), celebrate the "little" wins --
Sitting down to work on time each day
Reaching your daily word count goal
Hitting your milestones on time
Don't be stalled out by what might have gone wrong for the day. Focus on what you get right each time you sit down to your workspace.
If you fear failure…
Maybe it has you stuck, feeling inspiration has left you.
Let’s be honest: writing a book is hard. The competition is vast and the "best-seller" odds are long.
Here’s some hard, but ultimately good, news, however: your fear is legitimate.
It’s justified.
It's ok to feel afraid.
Acknowledge that you might be afraid, but don’t let fear make you quit. Remember, fear doesn't get to make the decisions. Instead, allow it to motivate you to beat it EVERY DAY. That’s what leads to success. When you're willing to go just one step further, when fear tells you you can't, you WIN.
Most people don't realize that getting past fear isn't always a long sordid process. Quite often, all that's required is simply taking one more step. If you can manage to do one extra thing in the face of fear, you've succeeded. If you can do that every day, you'll transform your life and your thinking.
If you’re a procrastinator…
People think we procrastinators are goof-offs or lazy, but really we're not!
For some of us, it's part of our process. Personally, my brain doesn't really start thinking until the deadline clock is LOOMING overhead. I used to beat myself up about it. I'd sit down to the computer on a Monday for an assignment due Sunday, and just... sit. Nothing would come. But then, on Thursday morning, BOOM! The idea would hit me like a ton of bricks, and I could write all day.
So, I've learned to embrace procrastination. It's part of my process. My brain needs the pressure of a deadline to get inspired and motivated! So I created my own deadlines and had my coach hold me to them. Having someone to answer to made the requirement real; I couldn't back out or reschedule.
I also learned not to beat myself up if I sat down to write and could only stare at the screen. I have been honest with myself about how my brain works, so I understand what's happening. It's not writer's block -- brain is still "cooking" the idea.
This also means I must be flexible with my word-count goals. If my daily goal is 500 words and I'm stuck one day, then the next day, I must commit to 1,000 words. This is how deadlines get met!
Goals, accountability, and flexibility are keys to the success of the procrastinator.
Here's the bottom line:
Don’t give up.
Don’t quit.
Push through discouragement, fear, and procrastination.
They're all part of the journey.
I'm Dr. Rhonda! I'm an Entrepreneur Life Coach who kicks people out of their comfort zones and onto (or further along) their destiny path. People who work with me are serious about fulfilling their life's assignment and becoming the person they're created to be. If you're ready to SOAR, let's talk. Book a consultation with me.
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