Time Management Skills for Writers
Writing from home for a living may sound like a dream, but one of the hardest things about the job isn't actually the writing. Like all work-at-home careers, balancing the job with the home can be a great challenge, especially if you're a procrastinator. It takes a lot of discipline to keep the TV off, walk past the sink full of dirty dishes and tell your friend you don't have time for coffee. Yet, to be successful, you must be able to do all of these things and focus on the task at hand: putting fingers to keyboard, and keeping them there.
Set a Schedule
Working from home can be flexible, but it's still necessary to set a schedule to ensure your work time doesn't get away from you. A work schedule can be as simple as "write from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m." or it can be a little less straightforward, such as a schedule that builds in time for laundry, errands and breaks. Choose a schedule that works for you. If you have a long attention span, choose a schedule that has long blocks of time for writing. If you like taking frequent breaks, choose a schedule that has you writing for an hour, followed by a half-hour break. The key is to stick with whatever schedule you choose in order to make sure the work gets done.
Don't Give In to Temptation
The flexibility of working from home can go right out the window if you allow yourself to be too flexible. Spending an entire work day watching TV or painting the living room with the notion that you'll make up the time tomorrow is a decision that will likely lead to failure. Once you're behind, it's difficult to catch up, and catching up often means writing at night instead of spending time with your family or engaging in leisurely activities. The key is balancing the task of writing with other pressing tasks, and taking your writing time as seriously as you take your time off.
Keep Track of Your Hours
Keeping a running record of the hours you work will help ensure that you are spending an adequate time writing each day. It's easy to lose track of the time you spend doing other things if you're one who prefers to write for short bursts of time, followed by a short burst of other activity. Set a goal for the minutes you want to be writing each day, and keep track of your minutes at the keyboard. Tell yourself that your writing day isn't over until you've met your goal.
Set a Schedule
Working from home can be flexible, but it's still necessary to set a schedule to ensure your work time doesn't get away from you. A work schedule can be as simple as "write from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m." or it can be a little less straightforward, such as a schedule that builds in time for laundry, errands and breaks. Choose a schedule that works for you. If you have a long attention span, choose a schedule that has long blocks of time for writing. If you like taking frequent breaks, choose a schedule that has you writing for an hour, followed by a half-hour break. The key is to stick with whatever schedule you choose in order to make sure the work gets done.
Don't Give In to Temptation
The flexibility of working from home can go right out the window if you allow yourself to be too flexible. Spending an entire work day watching TV or painting the living room with the notion that you'll make up the time tomorrow is a decision that will likely lead to failure. Once you're behind, it's difficult to catch up, and catching up often means writing at night instead of spending time with your family or engaging in leisurely activities. The key is balancing the task of writing with other pressing tasks, and taking your writing time as seriously as you take your time off.
Keep Track of Your Hours
Keeping a running record of the hours you work will help ensure that you are spending an adequate time writing each day. It's easy to lose track of the time you spend doing other things if you're one who prefers to write for short bursts of time, followed by a short burst of other activity. Set a goal for the minutes you want to be writing each day, and keep track of your minutes at the keyboard. Tell yourself that your writing day isn't over until you've met your goal.
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