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dragonjournal) wrote2024-04-28 09:49 am
dragonjournal) wrote2024-04-28 09:49 am
Finding writing time while juggling RL
So, let's see how many ways is your attention being pulled today? Kids? Family? Friends? Housework? Work-work? What about just relaxing into your favorite media?
No doubt you're staring at that list and adding your own little bits to it. Maybe there's a challenge that you want to participate in, which means finding time to write. That means you've got to carve out moments of time where you can write.
So, think about it. Where can you find five minutes to write? It seems almost impossible in today's hustle and bustle world, doesn't it? Well, you can do it. Whether it be every day, or not depends on you. Let me give you an example from my own schedule (from when I was working):
Monday through Friday:
600: Up, shower, get dressed, meds, feed cat, get brother out of bed.
644: Bus downtown
705: Arrive at work
710: Start writing
8-12: Work
12-1: Lunch/writing
1-430: Work
450: Bus home
510: Walk home from bus
530: Settle in after work
I generally didn't write after work, since there's all the problems of taking care of a house that come about. But I did have almost two hours of writing time that are in the day. Now, I'm very privileged in that I had a full hour for lunch, and a bluetooth keyboard and tablet to write on. I recognize that I don't have to drag my laptop about, so that cuts down on pain in the ass-ness. The weekends are a bit more hit or miss, so I generally just count them as "bonus time" so that I don't have to think about "Oh god, when will I write?!" And that's a relief, really. It takes the pressure off some.
So, here's my challenge to you: Find those little nuggets of time. Look for them. Perhaps you can scratch out a scene sketch in downtime at work. Perhaps, you only have 30 minutes for lunch that's a couple hundred words, if you work at it.
Now, to find the nuggets of time, here's what I suggest you do. Write down your schedule. Be as specific as you can at first, to really showcase where you're losing time. And I say "Losing" but it's time that you could be writing! I have a friend who swears by writing on her phone while on the bus. She has thumbs of lightning! I can't do that, but she gets a lot of work done that way. Which, hey, is the point.
But it is possible to find time to work, even if you work two jobs. Again, write down your schedule. You know where you're supposed to be and when. Write it down and look at it. Say, "okay, I have five minutes here, ten there. What can I combine or cut out to get fifteen of writing time?" It's a challenge, but your writing and your stress levels will thank you. And I understand an hour lunch is not standard and am eternally grateful for that time. (I think it should be standard, but that's another rant somewhere else) And I understand my "must haves" are probably very different to yours.
It is those must haves that you really need to look at. It's time to prioritize your writing. And in order to do that, you need to know where your time is going. So you have your schedule, rough or pretty, in front of you. Where is your writing time? Before work? Before school? Before everyone else in the house wakes up and demands things from you? What about lunch? Or naptime? (I used to furiously pound out words during naptime.) Where you find time is up to you. Just make sure you do.
No doubt you're staring at that list and adding your own little bits to it. Maybe there's a challenge that you want to participate in, which means finding time to write. That means you've got to carve out moments of time where you can write.
So, think about it. Where can you find five minutes to write? It seems almost impossible in today's hustle and bustle world, doesn't it? Well, you can do it. Whether it be every day, or not depends on you. Let me give you an example from my own schedule (from when I was working):
Monday through Friday:
600: Up, shower, get dressed, meds, feed cat, get brother out of bed.
644: Bus downtown
705: Arrive at work
710: Start writing
8-12: Work
12-1: Lunch/writing
1-430: Work
450: Bus home
510: Walk home from bus
530: Settle in after work
I generally didn't write after work, since there's all the problems of taking care of a house that come about. But I did have almost two hours of writing time that are in the day. Now, I'm very privileged in that I had a full hour for lunch, and a bluetooth keyboard and tablet to write on. I recognize that I don't have to drag my laptop about, so that cuts down on pain in the ass-ness. The weekends are a bit more hit or miss, so I generally just count them as "bonus time" so that I don't have to think about "Oh god, when will I write?!" And that's a relief, really. It takes the pressure off some.
So, here's my challenge to you: Find those little nuggets of time. Look for them. Perhaps you can scratch out a scene sketch in downtime at work. Perhaps, you only have 30 minutes for lunch that's a couple hundred words, if you work at it.
Now, to find the nuggets of time, here's what I suggest you do. Write down your schedule. Be as specific as you can at first, to really showcase where you're losing time. And I say "Losing" but it's time that you could be writing! I have a friend who swears by writing on her phone while on the bus. She has thumbs of lightning! I can't do that, but she gets a lot of work done that way. Which, hey, is the point.
But it is possible to find time to work, even if you work two jobs. Again, write down your schedule. You know where you're supposed to be and when. Write it down and look at it. Say, "okay, I have five minutes here, ten there. What can I combine or cut out to get fifteen of writing time?" It's a challenge, but your writing and your stress levels will thank you. And I understand an hour lunch is not standard and am eternally grateful for that time. (I think it should be standard, but that's another rant somewhere else) And I understand my "must haves" are probably very different to yours.
It is those must haves that you really need to look at. It's time to prioritize your writing. And in order to do that, you need to know where your time is going. So you have your schedule, rough or pretty, in front of you. Where is your writing time? Before work? Before school? Before everyone else in the house wakes up and demands things from you? What about lunch? Or naptime? (I used to furiously pound out words during naptime.) Where you find time is up to you. Just make sure you do.