Five Cost-Free Ways to Stay Focused While Writing

Since becoming a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, I’ve learned a trick or two about improving my productivity. With a constant stream of freelance assignments, editorial deadlines, emails, and speaking events, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and distracted.

My writer friends and I face two main challenges in our careers:

·       Staying on task when the to-do list never ends

·       Spending too much time at the desk in order to get the job done

If you’re like us, you may face these same struggles. While many solutions exist in the form of productivity apps or task managers, most of them charge a fee. But with these quick tips, you won’t have to break the bank to improve your time management and productivity.

1. Run Sprints: Find an accountability partner and commit to checking in on each other after a 25-minute “word sprint.” Aim for 500 or 1,000 words and send pictures of your before-and-after wordcounts to prove you’re moving toward your goal. Other goals may include finalizing a pitch, updating your website, posting on social media, or editing a chapter. Whatever you need to finish, it’s always more fun when you find a friend to help cheer you across the goal line.

2. Get in the Groove: Many writers find music helpful in tuning out distractions. Try streaming free services such as Spotify or Pandora.. A hidden perk to opting for the free subscription is that the playlists will be cycled by time. That means, when the ads start to play, your break begins. This helps keep me on track while enjoying some cool jazz or coffee house tunes. Plus, I’ve found an added bonus—the music stimulates my creative brain and helps defeat any writer’s block I may be experiencing.

3. Follow the Beat: A little different from your standard streaming services, BrainFM offers specific music scientifically designed to steer your brain into a certain state: focused, relaxed, asleep. They offer five free sessions, so give it a try and see if these rhythmic beats help improve your focus as much as they do mine.

4. Use a Timer: Whether you opt for a free app such as Pomodoro, an alarm on your smartphone, or an old-fashioned kitchen timer, many writers find it helpful to focus on one task for 25 minutes at a time. I like to take a five-minute break before starting another focus session, but I also set every fourth break for a little longer in duration. This allows me to schedule time for errands or chores, so I can push all those extra worries away while I’m working.

5. Move It: It’s no secret that working at a computer can take a strain on a writer’s health. It’s important to make the most of break times by not only resting your brain but by working your body too. If you work from home, like me, try to squeeze in 100 jumping jacks, a 3-minute plank, 15 minutes of yoga, or a quick HITT circuit  during your breaks. If you work in a public space, perhaps you can climb sets of stairs or do a few laps around the building. You’ll be surprised how much you can move in five minutes flat.

Engaging both the body and the brain throughout the workday helps to improve my productivity, mood, and overall well-being. And because these strategies don’t cost a dime, they never carry a sting.

BIO – Julie Cantrell is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, editor, TEDx speaker, book coach, and ghostwriter. In addition to publishing novels, children’s books, and creative nonfiction, Julie has contributed to more than 20 additional works. She’s also operated a thriving freelance business since 2001.  

from https://ift.tt/3aSvBMt FundsforWriters https://ift.tt/3f3VHPU