"I haven’t written for a week."
It’s one of those late-night thoughts that sneaks in just as you’re trying to unwind, the kind that can jolt you out of a relaxed state. You want to write, but life keeps getting in the way. When you finally do sit down, you find yourself exhausted. Maybe your son is practicing on the drum set his aunt gave him for his birthday, or construction noise outside your window drives you up the wall. Or maybe, the words just aren’t coming. We’ve all been there. It happens.
When I first started writing around age 14, the words would pour out of me. I could write for hours without stopping to question myself. Was any of it good? Hardly! But I had oodles of time and zero self-consciousness, two factors that fueled my ability to write freely. Now, in my seasoned twenties, I have much less time and a whole lot more self-consciousness. These new challenges—one practical and the other psychological—require different solutions.
Step 1: Finding the Time
Let’s start with time. How do we carve out space in our schedules for writing? The answer is simple, but not always easy: we make the time. Writing, like any skill, requires consistent practice. So, if we’re battling time constraints, the first step is to find a specific, consistent time to write. Here are a few methods that have worked for me (and might work for you too):
Set a Timer: Dedicate just 15 minutes if that’s all you have. If the timer goes off and you’re still writing, let yourself keep going!
Anchor to Another Habit: Try pairing writing with another routine. For instance, write for a few minutes after your morning coffee or before you check emails in the evening.
Protect Your Writing Time: Make it a priority. Treat your writing like an important meeting; don’t skip it unless absolutely necessary.
Step 2: Overcoming Self-Consciousness
Once you’ve carved out the time, the next challenge is pushing through the self-doubt that can creep in. I still battle my inner critic every day. Here are some strategies that help me stay focused:
Write Without Judging: Try “freewriting” to get words down without any pressure. Editing can come later, but in the moment, just let the words flow.
Set Small Goals: Don’t worry about hitting a huge word count every time. Some days, even a sentence or two is progress.
Remember the Joy of Writing: Reflect on why you started writing in the first place. Writing can be hard work, but it can also be a source of joy, release, and discovery.
Putting It All Together
Creating and maintaining a writing routine is a journey. Some days will be easier than others, and there will be times when life interrupts your best-laid plans. But every small step you take to make time and embrace the process will make it that much easier to stick with it. So here’s my challenge to you: set aside a few minutes today, write without judgment, and let your creativity flow.