Do you ever wish you could energize your writing to improve your productivity?
Sleepless nights, fatigue, and feeling tired can take its toll on anyone, including writers. Despite how you feel, the blog post, the article, and the book still have to be written by the deadline.
To stay on track, I have tried lots of things over the years. If you experience WWT – writing while tired — here are 12 tips on how to get more energy to improve your productivity.
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In preparing to write
TIP #1 – Get Some Rest
I realize for some people, getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done. For me, all I had to do was make a few adjustments in my bedtime routine. First, I try to go bed at the same time every night, Sunday through Thursday (I stay up a little later on Fridays). Second, I downloaded Calm, a relaxation, and meditation app, which offers soothing music and bedtime stories to help me sleep. Finally, I use the Moonbow Bedphones, wireless sleep headphones that allow me to lay on my side without feeling the pain of an earbud in my ear. My sleep routine helps me get the rest I need to avoid feeling tired.
TIP #2 – Practice Mindful Eating
The next thing I did to avoid being tired was to deal with my eating habits. While on vacation, I decided to watch Dr. Mark Hyman talk to Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and their family about their health. Talking to each family member, Dr. Hyman explained how their gut health was affecting their energy levels. It was fascinating. I never considered how much the health of my gut could impact my energy.
In talking to my doctor, I confirmed that my overall health is fine. But I know I go overboard sometimes with sugar. So I decided to make adjustments to my eating habits to see if my energy level could improve, and it did. Dr. Hyman offers great advice in his books, Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? So I changed my eating habits to include more vegetables, fruits, and nuts, and less processed foods and sugar. As a result, I lost ten pounds, and I have more energy throughout the day to get more writing done.
TIP #3 – Make Time to Exercise
Exercise is an excellent way to get the blood circulating through your body and boost energy. Whether in the gym or at home, squeezing in a workout isn’t too hard for me. After years of being overweight, I changed my daily routine to include an early morning workout between 5 and 9 a.m. When I can’t get to the gym, I grab my yoga mat, towel, and exercise ball at home. There are lots of apps and 15- or 20-minute workouts on YouTube.
Not only does working out help improve my health and energy level, but it helps me think about my writing assignments for the day. While on the treadmill or the elliptical, I often develop ideas for books or blog posts. During breaks, I capture my thoughts in the notes app on my smartphone.
TIP #4 – Clear the Clutter
I never knew how exhausting clutter could be until I tried to write. While a messy desk may mean that some of us are geniuses, it’s a distraction for me. To avoid wasting energy during my writing time, I take the following steps.
- Don’t create piles. Rather than letting mail pile up on my desk, I’ve learned to throw away or file documents.
- Avoid making your desk a storage bin. I use to leave everything on my desk. Now I like to keep it clear and clean after each writing session.
- Declutter each week. Since I decluttered my writing space, I try to schedule weekly cleaning sessions.
- An organized home office is your key to finally getting things done. Check out Darla DeMorrow‘s book, The Upbeat, Organized Home Office: Five Simple Steps to SORT and Succeed for an Organized Mind.
On your writing days
TIP #5 – Write When You Have the Most Energy
Even with a good night’s sleep, I realize that my energy levels are different throughout the day. By reading the book, The Power of When I learned that timing is everything. The author explains chronotypes, a classification of the general timing of my biological clock. After taking Dr. Michael Breus’ Bio-Time Quiz, I discovered I am a lion – someone who is an early-riser ready to tackle anything in the morning, but tired by the end of the day.
Armed with this information, I now know that I get more writing done during the time when I have the most energy. So I work on blog posts, client assignments, and my book during the morning hours and save other activities like social media and website maintenance for the second part of my day.
TIP #6 – Use Writing Prompts
Sometimes it’s hard to get into the flow of writing. Avoid wasting time and energy by freewriting. During a freewriting session, you set a timer for a certain amount of time, like 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off, give yourself a 5 or 10-minute break. When I write for 45 minutes, I take a 15-minute break. During a freewriting session, you can write about a specific topic or use a writing prompt. As you write, don’t worry about editing, grammar, or punctuation. From start to finish, write, and don’t stop. Here’s a free practical guide on writing which includes a copy of my writing prompts to help you get started.
TIP #7 – Set a Time Limit on How Long You Will Write
I used to think I had all day to get my writing done. Part of this thinking came about as a result of me attending graduate school online, outside of regular work hours. Sometimes the only time I had to write a 17-page paper was at night and on weekends. But those days are gone. For my writing business, I learned that I stayed focused and energized when I set a time limit for each writing project. Before I begin writing, I decided if my session will last for one, two, or three hours.
TIP #8 – Take Breaks When Writing
Once I set my writing time for each project, I determine when I will take a break and for how long. Studies highlight the benefits of taking a 15-minute break after working 90 minutes. But you can work for shorter periods and still take breaks. For example, if I write for 30 minutes, I take a 5-minute break, but if I write for 45 minutes, I take a 15-minute break. The length of your break is up to you. But remember, your break should not carry you away from your writing session.
TIP # 9 – Take a Walk
While on a writing break, I like to take a quick walk. Sometimes I walk around the building or library where I am working or down the street if I’m at home. A walk not only helps me stay active, but it also allows me to think about what I am writing. By the time I return to my writing, I feel better, and I have a few more ideas for the content I am working on.
TIP #10 – Take a Nap
Studies show there are benefits in taking short naps during the day. There are three types of naps which include:
- Planned napping where you take a nap before getting sleepy.
- Emergency napping happens when you are suddenly so tired that you cannot continue until you take a nap.
- Habitual napping involves taking a nap at the same time every day.
Sleep experts believe a 20-30 minute nap improves alertness. However, a nap taken late in the day could negatively affect your regular nighttime routine.
TIP #11 – Write While Standing
I realize this may not work for everyone, but I like writing at a standing desk. Studies show that using a standing desk can reduce stress while improving energy levels. While working at my standup desk, I use a floor mat to reduce pressure on my legs and feet. I don’t usually stand all day. By the afternoon, I try to take a seat, move around, or run errands.
TIP #12 – Try Writing in Different Places
Nothing energizes my writing sessions like a trip to my local library. Once I find a writing space near, set up my laptop, and plug in my headphones, my brain switches to ready-to-write mode. By the time I leave, I have accomplished my goal.
How do you find energy when writing?
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Failure is a familiar friend. It sits next to you with one arm around your shoulder hovering between, “I told you so,” and “At least you tried.”
Find out what prevents you from writing. Is your writing environment loud, uncomfortable, or distracting? Within five minutes of your writing time, are you interrupted by something? Are you too tired to write? Once you find your writing blockers, deal with them quickly, or they will rob you of your precious writing time.
