My dissertation coaching clients and writing coaching clients have problems with time—usually the problem is that there’s not enough. Occasionally, there’s too much time!
1. Put it into writing.
It’s important not only to schedule writing every day, but also to mark your calendar. One dissertation client says, “If I don’t have a space in my daily calendar marked ‘write,’ I let other responsibilities push writing out.”
2. Gear up every morning.
Free write or list ideas every morning, even if you aren’t able to take your writing beyond free writing. “It gets you going for later in the day,” says another client.
3. Make the most of available minutes.
“If I know that I have only lunch hour to write, I plan what I will write,” says a third client. “I can’t afford to let minutes slip away.”
4. There’s such a thing as too much time.
If you have full days available to you to write, start strong and then break for a yoga class or schedule coffee with a friend. Having a whole day that stretches ahead can lead to procrastination.
5. And last, never give up writing time for household chores.
Says one writer, “I just have a rule that I won’t ever clean a toilet or wash a dish during my time for writing.” Such a rule keeps you from finding urgent excuses not to write.
Share your tip for finding more time to write. I’d love to hear from you.
Make time to write,
Nancy
Nancy Whichard, Ph.D., PCC
Your International Dissertation Coach and Academic Career Coach
www.nancywhichard.com
www.dissertationbootcamp.net
www.usingyourstrengths.com
Your last tip is well taken. You have to make the commitment to your writing. You never realize just how easy it is to make excuses. I’d take that one step further and not let others encroach on your writing time. No phone calls. No emails.
LikeLike
Thanks so much for adding to the tip, Chris. I agree with you about boundaries.
LikeLike