10 creative ways to squeeze writing into your day

If you’re anything like me, you’re always scrambling to find time to write.  I made a promise to myself I would write at least 200 words every day and see what happens.  I don’t always have the luxury to clear my schedule and sit down for an hour during the day and write without distraction.  So I had to get creative and use my “in-between time” to get my writing done.  Here’s the 10 best time’s I’ve found to write.

  1. In the sauna – I try to use the 10-15 minutes I spend in the sauna post workout to get some writing.  There’s some occupational hazards like your sweat falling on your jumbling up your words or your phone occasionally overheating.  But I have found a lot of good ideas come out when I am extremely hot and uncomfortable.  I’m actually sitting in the sauna writing this now.
  2. On the toilet – This is an obvious choice.  You’re going to be sitting there for a few minutes with your phone, why not write rather than scrolling through Instagram.
  3. At the end of your workday – I’m usually the last one at my office, so it’s quiet and there are no distractions.  I’m still in work-mode and haven’t been beaten down by the traffic on my commute.  This is also a good time for editing for me.
  4. Bedtime – When I crawl into bed at night I always have thoughts racing through my head.  Some are constructive, others are my insane ruminations.  Either way, writing helps me get to sleep by capturing those thoughts and emptying my mind.  I make sure to keep my phone near my bed so I can write down any ideas I get at night, because I know I will never remember them in the morning.
  5. Stuck in traffic – I don’t necessarily recommend this on for everyone, because it could be dangerous and illegal.  But I’ve been stuck in standstill traffic for 10-15 minutes and whipped out my phone and wrote.  I hate wasting time doing nothing.
  6. In between chapters while reading – I always get a ton of ideas while reading.  I jot them down and when I finish a chapter I try to make something out of my notes.  I use it as a reward for each chapter I read, because there’s times when I would much rather write than read.
  7. First thing In the morning –  Get those ideas out early and on paper.  Either while you’re still laying in bed or as part of your morning routine.  This is a very effective way deal with any anxiety you may be feeling about the day or you could use it to map out your daily goals.   Get it in front of you and see it for what it is.
  8. While at the dog park – It’s a little antisocial and I don’t want to neglect my dog, but on days she’s really into playing with other dogs, it gives me some time to get writing in.  When the weather is beautiful, it’s especially nice to be writing outside, taking in all that sunshine.
  9. In between sets at the gym –  I get 60-100 seconds between sets.   Normally I would be texting, checking SnapChat or a dating app. Instead, this gives me a time crunch to create something.  Sometimes a deadline can help get your ideas flowing.   Also,  its a reprieve from thinking about the physical stress your body is under and movement stirs up your ideas.
  10. While waiting – We all have empty spaces in our life, like at the barbershop, the DMV or before a meeting.  How often do you waste that time on social media or sitting there doing nothing? Why not use that time to write?  It helps control your feelings and emotions before a big meeting, like I’m about to have.  I write about my anxiety and fears regarding the meeting and how I may react. It’s a great prophylactic against blowing your stack.  I need that in my life.

Serenity Now!

 

What should you do when your mind feels blank or bound up and clogged by thoughts?   Write.  Write and don’t worry about what you’re writing.  No need to judge what comes out, worry about grammar or spellcheck as you’re doing it.

Turn off all filters and censors.  Simply put down onto paper whatever it is that pops up in your mind.  Your mind is always on no matter what.  The times when I feel empty and stifled creatively is usually when I have the most on my mind.  It’s lines and lines of code bouncing around in my head, sucking the life out of my ability to create.

With each word you write, a little more space and order is created inside your head.  Things that were frustrating and tying up your thoughts start to resolve themselves or fade away.  It’s spring cleaning for your psyche.  The more you purge the better you feel.

Getting ideas out of my head and into words causes mental and physical stress to die off.  The knots in my neck and back relax to a much more tolerable state.  It’s amazing what writing can do.

The harder it is to write, the more clutter you have in your head.  There is so much amazing content floating inside of you that you should never run out of material.

Before you know it, you may have written 500-1000 words without being aware of what you wrote.  It may not be your best material, or even good, but that’s not the point of the exercise.  It’s about freeing your thoughts and creating peace inside of you.

When I’m feeling the most stressed is when I have the the most difficulty writing.  My inner judge is telling me I have to create something amazing and worthy of sharing.  That pressure is usually too much for me, so I avoid writing all together.  That become a vicious cycle.  Every day I skip writing something, the more mind is cluttered and the my creativity is diminished.

When I’m able to write, free from censorship, the deeper the peace I feel in my life.  Writing allows me to strip away layers and bleed out toxic thoughts and feelings.  Put your thoughts on paper and read what you wrote.  It may not be a publishable work, but it may be exactly what you need to spark creativity and quiet your mind.