In Monday’s blog post, we looked at being realistic about how much writing time you can add into your week.
Today, I wanted to look at some specifics of when you can fit that writing time into your week – and to suggest three particularly good times of day to try.
Of course, not all of these will necessarily work with your schedule – but for many people, they’re good options to consider.
#1: Writing First Thing in the Morning
Many writers find it helpful to get their writing done before they get started on anything else. This has worked really well for me over the years, particularly at the times when I’ve been fitting writing around a day job.
I find that I rarely get anything productive done after about 9pm, so it works best for me to get to bed fairly early and get up a bit early too. That way, I’m much more focused when I sit down to write.
Writing in the morning also means that the pressures of the day haven’t (yet) had a chance to crowd in on your thoughts. If you struggle with the energy to write after work, switching your writing time to the morning could make a huge difference.
#2: Writing in Your Lunch Break
If you’re able to take an hour for lunch, you might find that this is a good time slot to write in. There’s a firm cut-off when you need to get back to work, which you may find helps you focus and make the most of your time.
This hasn’t been a consistent writing slot for me, though. I wrote in my lunch hours way back when I was a student doing data entry, but at some other times, I’ve used my lunch break to exercise so I can free up time at other points in the day for writing.
If you do decide to write during lunch, you might find it helps to get out of the office to a nearby coffee shop or library. That way, you won’t have to fend off colleagues who think you’re available to chat.
#3: Writing After Dinner
If you’ve got young children who’re in bed around 7 - 8pm, then the evenings can be a good time to write. The biggest challenge here is likely to be your energy levels and how well you can stay focused, and I think if you are going to write in the evening, it helps to keep your writing sessions short.
Writing in the evening can also be a good option if you work full-time, though again, you may struggle with energy levels after a full day of work.
There are plenty of other options that might work in your life, and what matters is finding a time slot that suits you. The three we’ve covered, though, are often good places to begin.
If there’s a particular time slot you’ve not tried, why not give it a go? You might find it works really well for you.
