How to Bend Time to Fit Writing into Your Busy Life

Do you wish you could somehow bend time to fit writing into your busy life? If so, you are not alone.

I meet many new, aspiring writers who want to or have attempted to write.  However, whether it’s their full-time job or other commitments, they cannot seem to squeeze writing into their day.

I know what it’s like to want to write with a full schedule.  As a corporate communicator, I used to dream of writing.  But after a busy day full of projects and meetings, I sometimes found it hard to write after hours.  

This post pays homage to time-crunched people with full-time jobs — either in the home or outside the home – who dream of writing after hours.  Today’s post highlights some productivity tips on how to bend time to fit writing into your schedule.  While I don’t tout these tips as a panacea for all of your writing pains, they can help you make time to write.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.” – Charles Buxton

Bend time by dividing tasks into 3 categories.

Like a lot of writers, I am guilty of underestimating time.  I used to think, ‘This shouldn’t take too long to write,’ or ‘I have plenty of time to write this piece of content,’ only to run short on time in the end.

But once I took time to study time, I learned to see time differently.

There are lots of great books on time and project management. One example, Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey, challenges readers to bend time.

First, it’s important to understand that we work on projects, not just ideas.  Yes, we start with an idea for a book or the idea to start journaling.  But eventually, the idea turns into a project or a habit once a plan is developed.

As we consider how best to manage our time while writing, we can apply three concepts, which include:

• Chunking.  Split projects into logical, achievable parts.
• Linking.  Join chunks together.
• Sequencing.  Link chunks together into a logical order.

Below is an example of what these three concepts look like as part of my blog writing process.

Use blocks to manage your time each week.

Once I started to apply chunking, linking, and sequencing to my writing process, I decided to deal with my relationship with time.

I’ve always been fascinated with time — finding time, making time, being on time.  As a professional communicator and writing coach, I help clients plan their time, find better uses for their time, and make timelines.  When it came time for me to focus on my writing, I had to find a time management system that worked for me.

I went through several systems before I settled on managing my time in blocks.  Time-blocking is the process of planning every part of the day, then designating specific time blocks for tasks and projects.

I realize this may seem like a lot of writing (see also ‘How To Write A Lot‘) and planning.  But once I filled my calendar with the tasks and projects I needed to work on for the day or the week, it was harder for other things to creep into my schedule and rob my time.

To manage my time blocks, I use the PomoDone App.  This app is an easy and fun way to track my time blocks using the Pomodoro technique.  The app includes a countdown timer and allows you to connect to your Trello project management board.

If you want to drill down further, Gilkey suggests dividing your time into four basic blocks.

Limit your focus to one project at a time. 

As part of your writing time, you may have several writing projects you want to complete.  Outside your full-time job, if you dedicate eight hours a week to work on writing eight projects, you may think that’s doable. But is it really? 

If you spend eight hours per week working on eight different writing goals, you could make a dent in each writing project.  But if you’re left with a computer or notebook full of unfinished projects, narrow your focus to one writing goal at a time.

Now, I realize you may be a multitasking genius with more than one writing goal on your list, but hear me out.  If your after-hours writing time is limited to four or eight hours per week, consider working on one writing project from your list for one, two, or six weeks.

Shortly after I decided to start my blog, I decided to write my first book.  As you could imagine, both were time-consuming.  Before moving to my book-writing dream, I got the website set up then put it on the backburner.  Then, I decided to focus my attention on writing my book.  Once the book was published, I returned my attention to my website and blog.  With both writing goals complete, I launched the book and the website at the same time.

Once you complete your one goal, move on to your next goal. Achieving each goal one at a time is motivating.  As you check off each goal, take a moment to celebrate and reflect.  Before you know it, you will achieve your writing goal. 

Please don’t get frustrated by the amount of time it takes to write.

When you only have a short amount of time to write, it’s easy to get frustrated by how long it takes you to complete your writing projects.

Recently I attended a webinar where the instructor asked everyone to list their most important writing goal.  As each person shared their answer, many writers added how disappointed they were about how long it took them to write a book or get their writing out into the world. 

If this is you, don’t get frustrated.  Outside of everything you have to do each day, there are only so many hours in a day for you to write.  Embrace the time you have to write, no matter how small.

But if you want to know how you’re spending your time, you can always use a time tracker.

Use a time tracker to list everything that needs to get done each week or your writing goal.  List the top things you want to get done each week and each day.  Third, make time to write – even if you only have 30 minutes to write. 

Summary

To bend time to our advantage when writing, we divide writing tasks into three categories — chunking, linking, or sequencing.  As we add our writing projects to our weekly schedule, we can apply focus blocks, social blocks, admin blocks, and recovery blocks.  And unless you work as a freelance writer or communicator, you should try to focus on one project at a time, especially if you work a full-time job.

The bottom line:  I’m busy; you’re busy; everyone is busy.  But if we want to write, we have to make time to write.

I’d love to help you as you take the next steps in your writing life.  To get started, complete this form and make a 30-minute appointment to talk about your current nonfiction writing project and needs.