Why Routine is Important

[hils]

Every day during the week as soon as I get home from work, and before I do anything else, I do a 20 minute writing sprint. I started doing it back when I was working from home and would do it as soon as I finished, and I've carried it on now that I'm back in the office.

I do it as soon as I finish work because I know that if I start something else I'll get distracted and end up not writing at all, and I want to write.

Yesterday was a reminder why doing it when I get home is important.

I got home from work a little later than usual because I was doing an interview that didn't finish until the time when I'm usually heading out the door. So I decided to post a chapter that had come back from my beta reader, watch my usual pre-dinner c-drama episode and then write if I had any time before dinner was ready.

By the time I'd done all that I tried to write and my brain was absolutely fried. I managed to bash out a few sentences but I couldn't concentrate at all.

So, writing while my mind is still relatively fresh and hasn't gone into wind down mode is definitely the key. As a contrast I did a 20 min sprint when I got home today and added 600+ words to my WIP

Comments

[alightbuthappypen]

This is such a good idea and I may steal it - I always tell myself I'll try and write in the evenings but as soon as I've sat down and eaten after work my brain basically checks out for the day :/

[hils]

Oh yeah I definitely couldn't do it after eating. After dinner I'm only good for watching a bit of TV and then reading in bed

[kazzy_cee]

Are you back in the office full time now? Hardly anyone I know goes in full time round here and a couple of kids I know have new jobs that specifically say working at home with ‘occasional’ office visits.

Working life certainly has changed!

[rebeccama]

Numerous studies have proven that it is crucial to getting things done.

[hils]

Yep we've been back in the office full time since the beginning of the year. I suspect this is part of the reason why we're struggling to recruit staff but senior management are adamant that this is a full time office based job.

[hils]

I can believe it!

[corvidology]

The most successful people I know at keeping a writing schedule do this exact same thing or get up 30 minutes earlier, do the getting ready for work stuff and then fit it in before leaving the house.