Karen Brown Tyson

Tag: #productivity

5 Daily Habits to Help Boost Your Creative Confidence
If you had all the creative self-confidence in the world, what would you do? As creative entrepreneurs, we face a lot of obstacles, including confidence in our creative abilities.

Unfortunately, when it comes to mindset as creative entrepreneurs, we sometimes do things that limit our growth. Self-doubt, negative self-talk, and fear are some of the obstacles that block our path.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I say, ‘Enough already.’

Whether you run a full-time or part-time creative business or write, paint, blog, make music or videos, we don’t have time to let self-doubt, negative thoughts, or fear hold us back from reaching our goals.

To help me stay on track, I rely on Isaiah 41:10:

Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.

In today’s post, I’m sharing five daily habits to help boost your creative confidence.

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

What is a habit?

A habit is a learned behavior that becomes automatic over time. A specific setting often triggers the behavior. For example, you may automatically brush your teeth before going to bed as part of your nighttime routine.

Habits can be healthy, unhealthy, or neutral. For example, a healthy habit might be stretching for ten minutes a day or writing in your journal at the end of the day. An unhealthy habit could be biting your fingernails or texting while driving. An example of a neutral habit would be eating the same things for breakfast every morning or taking the same route to work every day.

How to break a habit?

To break a habit, especially an unhealthy habit affecting creative self-confidence, it’s important to:
- First, pay attention to the triggers that feed into the bad habit.
- Then, replace the unhealthy habit with a positive one.
- Finally, get help from friends, family, and other professionals as needed.
5 Daily habits to help boost creative confidence

Start the day with a journal

At the start of my day, I like to write in my journal or idea notebook. This has helped clear my mind before I start working on my client assignments. I like to write for at least 30 minutes. If you don’t have much time, write a few sentences. Carry your journal or notebook with you throughout the day. If you need a break or if new ideas come to mind that you don’t want to forget, write them down.

Set daily goals

Every day I like to write down the three most important tasks for the day in my productivity notebook. Each task is associated with one of my goals. When you set a goal, it’s important to review your plan for achieving that dream. You may find yourself forgetting about what was most important because life gets busy, and new things are always coming up. Setting aside time every day can help remind us of our dreams, so we don’t lose focus or motivation when faced with challenges along the way. Once I accomplish my three most important tasks for the day, I feel inspired to keep moving forward.

Use time-blocking to manage your daily schedule

Nothing kills your confidence like losing track of time. Have you ever sat down to work but had no idea where to start? I have, and it can be frustrating. However, I save a lot of mental energy by planning out what I need to work on ahead of time. I like this technique called “time blocking.” Time block everything on your list and see how much progress (in hours) might happen during each specific timeframe; don’t forget about any important deadlines or events either–they need attention too. Through time-blocking, I feel confident and in control of my day.

Set phone boundaries

Do you ever find yourself checking your phone every few minutes? While working on my second book, I fell into the habit of constantly checking my phone. I was checking email, answering text messages, or reading my USA Today app. Before I knew it, my focus and flow were shot. To get back on track to finish the book, I started to limit the time I spent on my phone by setting boundaries. First, I only looked at my emails at scheduled times throughout the day. Next, I dedicated one-hour time blocks to work on projects before taking a break. Finally, I put my phone in a separate room during work hours.

Finish the day with a review

As part of my evening routine, I review the day and plan for tomorrow using a notebook. This 5-minute process helps me to prepare for what’s ahead in an organized manner. After reviewing what I accomplished and understanding what needs to be done, I feel productive and more confident to start again the next day.

As creative entrepreneurs, it’s easy to lose confidence from time to time. But trust the process. Establish a few habits that work for you and help you stay on track. Give yourself permission to learn, make mistakes, and try again. You never know whose life your work with touch. Build your confidence day by day, and keep moving forward.
October 21, 2021
How to Boost Your Attitude to Write Every Day

Updated October 2021

If you’re looking to boost your attitude so you can write every day, then you’ve come to the right place.

The life of a writer can be challenging. Whether you work as a full- or part-time writer, it’s sometimes hard to muster up the courage, strength, and discipline to write every day.

And if all of that is not enough, most writers deal with invisible obstacles like doubt, fear, or negative thoughts.

If this is you, I know how you feel. But these obstacles, especially negative thoughts, are such a waste of time and energy. And let’s be honest, ain’t nobody got time for that.

I adopted the thing as part of my daily writing routine to boost my attitude to write every day: focus on the big picture.

I changed my focus from negative self-talk to the big picture goals I outlined for myself as a writer to boost my attitude. First, I revisit my vision board to see what I outlined for the year. Then, I focus on new ideas that help me write the story I want to tell.

So what steps do I take to focus so I can boost my attitude? In this post, I outline seven steps I take to boost my attitude for writing.

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.

Here are 7 tips on how to boost your attitude to write every day

Tip #1 Sleep

I realize for some people, getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done. But, for me, all I needed was to make a few adjustments in my bedtime routine.

First, I try to go to bed at the same time every night, Sunday through Thursday (I stay up a little later on Fridays).

Second, I downloaded Calm, a relaxation app, which offers soothing music and bedtime stories to help me sleep.

Finally, I bought the Moonbow Bedphones, wireless sleep headphones that allow me to lay on my side without feeling the pain of an earbud in my ear.

Moonbow Bedphones

Tip #2 – Eating

Another crucial area that offers me an attitude adjustment is what I eat. Since adopting a Pescatarian diet six years ago, I feel much better. In addition, eating more fruits and vegetables has helped a lot.

But, full confession, I’m in love with sugar. So I decided to watch Dr. Mark Hyman, who offers excellent advice in his books, Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?

As a result, reducing my sugar intake gives me more energy throughout the day to get more writing done.

Tip #3 – Physical activity

Even if I only have 30 minutes, I like to include a workout as part of my morning routine.  Research shows exercise improves body image, self-esteem, and mental health. So after being inside writing for a long time, I go for a walk. The walk gives me a boost of energy and helps me reflect on my day or stir up ideas about my latest projects.

Tip #4 – Keep an idea notebook

Since I come up with ideas all day, I love keeping an idea notebook. It’s an excellent way for me to get my thoughts out of my head and on paper. I used to write my ideas everywhere – Post-it Notes, sheets of paper, and the back of napkins. Using a notebook helps me organize my thoughts. Any notebook will do the trick. This Bright Ideas Journal is full of color, but Kraft Paper Notebooks work just as well.

Tip #5 – Connect with other creatives

In addition to client meetings and coaching sessions, I love meeting with other creatives. The life of the solopreneur can be lonely. Meeting with other creatives – either in person or online – inspires me and helps me return to my writing projects with fresh ideas. A few weeks ago, I joined ProBlogger’s FREE 7-Day Content Sprint Course.  It was great meeting Problogger Darren Rouse and other creatives each night for seven days. Not only was Darren gracious enough to share his knowledge about writing blog posts, but it was great to see comments from other bloggers. I came away from those sessions inspired and ready to write new content.

Tip #6 – Make time for play dates

Throughout my career in public relations and corporate communications, there have always been deadlines. Some days were more demanding than others. The same is still true now that I run my own business. I learned the hard way that all work and no play make me unfocused and uncreative. Sometimes giving my writing a boost means going for a bike ride or playing a game with family and friends.

Tip #7 – Unplug by not doing any writing

Sometimes the best thing I can do for my writing is to take a break from writing. On the days that I unplug, I don’t write or work. My laptop is off, and I move work out of my mind. The break allows me to rest and return to my writing refreshed.

For some, writing every day comes easily. But for me, I can remember days of not being in the mood to write.

In those moments, I readjust my mindset to focus on the big picture. I quickly ask myself, ‘Why am I writing? What’s the result of my work as a writer?’

Does it take effort? Yes. But it is so worth it.

How do you boost your attitude to write? Let me know in the comments.

If you found this post helpful, please share it with others. Thanks!

October 7, 2021
Too Unfocused To Write? How to Help Your Writing in 3 Easy Ways
Every writer, myself included, has fallen into the trap of losing focus while writing. We sit at our writing spaces, intending to get lots of writing done, but we lose focus. Before we know it, we’ve spent two hours surfing the web, and we’re nowhere close to getting anything done. If you sometimes feel too unfocused to write, I will share three easy ways to refocus your writing time to improve your writing productivity.

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

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Too unfocused to write? You are not alone.

When you sit down to write, do you constantly check your phone or your email? It’s no secret that distractions are all around us. Sometimes it’s the phone or doorbell ringing, while other times, it’s us pushing our writing to the side to do something else.

According to a ComScore study, we spend at least three hours on our smartphones every day. So every time we stop writing to deal with our smartphones, emails, or other unplanned distractions, it can take up to 23 minutes to recover. Whether you write full-time or part-time, your time is precious. If we’re not careful, we end up wasting more time doing other things besides writing.

Frustrated with my own unproductive writing time, I decided to monitor what was going on by tracking my steps. I paid close attention to:
- how I started each writing session,
- at what point I stopped writing,
- what types of things distracted me most, and
- how much time passed before I returned to my writing.
As a result, I decided to make several changes, but I’m sharing three easy ways to help you get your writing back on track.

The three easy ways to help refocus your writing.

1. Calendarize your writing tasks

Every morning, I write down my to-do list for the day. I only focused on the tasks I had to complete for my full-time job as a corporate communicator, eventually carrying this habit into my consulting business. But I never included my writing tasks. Without including my writing tasks as part of my daily list of things to do, I easily lost my focus.

Now, I use two tools to keep me on track. First, I use my Google calendar to write down all of my tasks for the week. As I complete tasks throughout the week, I cross them off the list. The second tool I use is a desktop whiteboard which I update at the start of each day. On my desktop whiteboard, I write down the writing tasks I plan to work on for the day.

2. Time your writing sessions

Nothing helps me focus my writing sessions more than doing sprints. As a writer, it would be great to sit down and write for three or four hours non-stop. But life happens, and like many writers, I have to devote my time to other responsibilities. To manage all of my tasks, including my writing sessions, I set a timer for each task.

I have lots of apps in my arsenals like the PomoDoneApp and BeFocusedPro (in the Apple App Store) that allow me to use an electronic timer to time my writing sessions. My favorite program is RescueTime which offers FocusTime, where I can set a timer for 30 minutes or 2 hours. Also, FocusTime automatically blocks distracting websites I might try to sneak in when I lose focus.

3. Walk away from your writing session

After calendarizing my writing tasks and timing my writing sessions, I still had one obstacle to overcome: controlling my movement. After years of sitting at a desk, I was eager to start working at a standing desk with a floor mat. Despite being eager to work in my new writing environment, I still felt the urge to walk away from my writing project when I got stuck or lost my focus.

As it turns out, studies show that getting up and walking around for five minutes every hour can help you regain focus. In the study, employees who were allowed to walk for 30-minutes before working for five-hour stretches were happier and had less fatigue than the employees who weren’t allowed to move. So I made myself a deal. After each 25-minute writing sprint, I take a five-minute break. After five consecutive 25-minute writing sessions, I take a 20-minute break. By walking away from writing, I’m able to refocus and return refreshed.

Find Your Writing Blockers

Every writer must come to terms with the potential blockers that keep them from writing. Find out what causes you to lose your focus when 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.

[bctt tweet=”The world is waiting for you to tell your story. Don’t let us down.” username=”KBTWrites”]

For more information on how to manage your writing life, check out these articles:

How to Bend Time to Fit Writing into your Busy Life

6 Powerful Time Management Solutions for Time-Crunched Writers

10 Awesome Tips on How to Overcome Time Anxiety When Writing

I’d love to help you as you take the next steps in your writing life. To get started, complete this form to let me know about your current nonfiction writing project and needs.
May 20, 2021
6 Powerful Time Management Solutions for Time-Crunched Writers

Are you a time-crunched writer looking for ways to manage your writing life?

If yes, you aren’t alone.

Many writers crunched for time look for ways to fit more time into their writing routine while eliminating distractions.

For this reason, it’s good to find a few time-management tools to help you enhance productivity.

In today’s post, I highlight some useful time management tools that will help you eliminate the noise, eliminate distractions, and manage your writing projects more efficiently.

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.

RescueTime

Do you often end up scrolling through Instagram for hours, and when you glance at the clock, you can’t believe how much time you wasted?

RescueTime is here to rescue you from this feeling. This app records the exact time you spent on each activity. At the end of the day, you can identify the things that take up too much of your time.

This app can also help you set achievable writing goals and give you insight into where your time went.

MeisterTask

MeisterTask is an intuitive tool for project management and task management that helps you organize your writing to get things done. The tool allows you to manage your writing projects, to-do lists, and checklists in one place. I like that it helps me create electronic and flexible Kanban boards. I also like that it allows me to share information with my students or other writers.

Doris

If you have limited time to write, it can be quite hard to juggle everything. You forget deadlines, and all of a sudden, it dawns upon you that you’ve missed the deadline. There’s no feeling worst than this!

With Doris, you can list all your tasks and set them in order of priority by drag-and-drop. It’s a free website that you can easily sync across your devices and keep track of all your deadlines without having to worry about them.

OmmWriter

If you are one of those writers who easily get distracted while writing, OmmWriter helps you stay focused. It frees your screen from distractions, so you only focus on what’s right in front of you. It also offers relaxing music to make writing more productive. I used this app to write my first book, and it worked great. It’s available on Mac, PC, and iPad, so it will follow you everywhere you go.

Toggl

This app lets you keep track of your time on a particular writing task. This is quite helpful in understanding your strengths as a writer. You can also use this app to stay organized and stay in control. If you work with clients on an hourly basis, you can use Toggl to send reports to your clients for invoicing.

Focus Booster

Focus Booster is another fantastic tool many part-time writers love. It works on the Pomodoro Technique – 25 minutes (or more) of work followed by regular 5-minute breaks.

Focus Booster tracks your time and makes sure that you take a break. So, it helps you stay refresh your focus and rejuvenate your energy every twenty-five minutes. Thanks to this technique, you won’t ever feel burned out as a writer.

Find time management tools that work for you

There are lots of time management apps and tools to help writers. Explore as many options as you can and pick things that work for you. But don’t try to apply too many. With a few time management and productivity tools, you can manage your writing life effectively and reduce time anxiety.

February 18, 2021
How to Energize Your Writing to Improve Productivity
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.

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.

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.
1. Don’t create piles. Rather than letting mail pile up on my desk, I’ve learned to throw away or file documents.
2. 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.
3. Declutter each week. Since I decluttered my writing space, I try to schedule weekly cleaning sessions.
4. 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.
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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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January 30, 2020
How to Create a Productive Writing Routine

One of the biggest obstacles solopreneurs, freelance writers, bloggers, and entrepreneurs face is how to create a productive writing routine.

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. Not only do you have to run your business, but you need to find time to write your first book or your next book.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and thrown off track.

But how we view and manage our time requires a shift in mindset and behaviors. If you currently have a writing routine that is not working, here are five steps on how to fix it immediately.

Do you wonder how some writers can write anywhere? When you travel with the right tools, you can get a lot done. Check out this list for ideas.

A cluttered writing space can slow down your productivity. Here are a few ideas on how to declutter and simplify your writing life.

The infographic below offers five tips on how to create a productive writing routine. Are there other things you can do to establish a productive writing routine? Absolutely. The infographic highlights five steps to get you started.

Feel free to share your ideas in the comments section.

December 26, 2019