What’s your word count today? Go ahead, take a look. Is it as high as you were hoping? If not, these graphics will guide you to more productive writing sessions–meaning more words, more books, and more time as an author. Happy writing!
Okay, maybe skip the bacon, eggs, and sausage, but countless sources state that eating a healthy breakfast can keep your energy up and your concentration steadfast. And don’t rule out dinner-time foods–fish and leafy vegetables are a great way to start the day, as well as more traditional options like yogurt, steel-cut oats, and grain cereals. If your mornings usually pass by in a haze until you can hit up Starbucks, try preparing a bowl of oatmeal and blueberries the night before to resist the temptation of that nutrition-void croissant.
Strapped for time or stuck on sugary cereals? Try these five breakfasts to boost your brainpower.
Speaking of that walk to Starbucks, it’s likely that the walk itself is doing you more good than the coffee. A brisk jaunt through the local park or gardens (or even getting off your bus or subway a stop early) gives you the chance to take in the sunlight, breathe deeply of the fresh air, and get your blood flowing. And who knows–maybe the time to yourself will give you that breakthrough on chapter seven that you’ve been chasing for two weeks!
Once you do get to the desk–full on a healthy breakfast and after a brisk walk, we hope–it’s time to get to work. But don’t just jump into your writing. Take ten minutes to plan out your day. One popular way to do this is through the Pomodoro technique. This involves breaking your day into 30-minute blocks, or “pomodoros”, that include a focused work timer for 25 minutes, then a break timer for five minutes. Here’s how to set it up.
First, figure out what you want to get done during the day–maybe you want to organize your outline of chapter three, then write the first half of the chapter. Then, decide how many pomodoros each task should take. Maybe this means two sets for the outline, then four sets for the writing. This gives you a standard of productivity while the work timer is on, and a chance to relax while it’s off.
You can get a free timer for your Chrome browser (that shuts off all distraction websites during the work phase) through this link.
And while we’re on the topic of focused work, it’s worth reminding that emails do not, in fact, count towards your word goal! Close your email, and if you keep getting pulled back to that ever-expanding time-suck, try out Inbox Pause. Goodbye, distractions!
If you find yourself staring at the same wall day-in, day-out, it may be time to lift the weight that is ennui off your shoulders and spice things up. Head across the street to that cute café, or try the library’s study tables. Heck, if it’s a nice day, hit the park and work in the sunshine! Just make sure your laptop doesn’t run out of battery before saving!
Okay, don’t get defensive yet–you may actually find that going phone-free for a few hours reduces your stress and allows you to focus on the task at hand. Even when it’s not buzzing or beeping, your phone is like the One Ring to your brain, constantly pulling you to it to check for messages, even when you know there are none. Throw that sucker in a drawer or under your bedroom pillow. You’ll feel the tension dissipate the second it’s out of sight and mind.
But even when your phone is gone, you’ll have to contend with distractions from social media. Instead of letting Facebook dictate your day, remove its power by installing the News Feed Eradicator. Replacing your Facebook wall with motivational quotes, this handy app will save you from all kinds of digital diseases, such as endless-scrollitis and image crafting syndrome
Ever feel like you’re dying at your desk? Maybe that’s a little melodramatic, but desk plants will help bring you and your writing back to life by improving air quality and reducing stress. Desk plants eliminate “volatile organic compounds”, reducing vision and respiratory problems, and even have a calming effect that helps keep your blood pressure and heart rate down. Plus, plants are beautiful, and nature was always known as the greatest muse. Perhaps you’ll find that perfect word while staring into the deep green leaves of your jade plant!
Kids interrupting you every five minutes? Tired of dodging your mother’s phone calls? It might be time to isolate yourself. Pack up your essential writing equipment–that means leaving the iPad behind–and head out to a quiet space where nobody knows you. Maybe it’s as simple as locking yourself in your bedroom–or bathroom, if you’re desperate. Maybe it’s a drive across town to the café where everyone speaks Italian. Find a place that lets you be in peace and get some writing done–and when your mother tracks you down, find a new hideout!
Maybe nobody’s tugging at your sleeves to fix their toy, but you still might be left at the whim of the local garbage workers or the neighbour’s dog. If noise-pollution is your problem, spring for a nice pair of noise-cancelling headphones, or pump out some white noise to keep you focused. If it’s a dead silence that’s making you feel like you’re working in a graveyard, blast some feel-good tunes to get you in the mood–or, try an ambient soundtrack. “Busy Coffeeshop” is our personal favourite.
And that brings us to the ultimate productivity tip: get a good night’s sleep! Getting the right amount of sleep is essential, yet many people get caught in a trap of staying up late to be more efficient, but losing effectiveness due to fatigue. Skip the reality TV for a night and turn in early for a full 7 to 9 hours (depending on your body’s needs). Avoid screens for at least 40 minutes by getting into a good book (we have some right here), then finish the job with a guided sleep meditation. When you wake up feeling like a bear after hibernation, you’ll be hooked, let alone when you sit down to write and find your brain brimming with words it came up with through the night.
Writers are in constant search of productivity tips like the ones above, but remember–there’s no magic bullet. Though it can be tough to admit it, we all know where our weaknesses lie when it comes to productivity, and often the only thing you need is the willpower to follow through with the one or two fixes you’ve known all along. So stop reading and start doing–we’ll be waiting for you and your book when you get back!
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