Writing tips

How to make time to write: 6 tips for busy people

Too busy to write? Learn how to make time to write in short bursts, before bed, in the morning, or on your commute, and which habits to cut to free up time.

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If you are too busy to write, make the time instead of waiting to find it. Write in short bursts before bed, in the morning, or on your commute, cut what you do not need, and use the weekend to put your notes in order.

Do you feel that you are too busy to write? You are probably right. Life has a way of getting in the way whenever you want to sit down and put what is on your mind on paper. It doesn't have to be that way all the time, though. If you can't find the time to write, make it.

The most practical solution for busy people is to write in short bursts. Here are some simple ways to squeeze in some writing, even if it is just a paragraph or two.

6 ways to make time to write

Write before you go to bed

For many people, ideas tend to trickle in just before they go to sleep. Why not take advantage of it? Keep a notebook on your nightstand so you can write your heart out until your eyes droop.

Slip it into your morning routine

After you wake up, make your coffee, sit down, and write for thirty minutes, or for as long as your schedule allows. The shower and breakfast can wait.

Write while you commute

If you drive, skip this one and focus on the road. If you take a bus or a train, though, you can get a lot of writing done. Many aspiring writers have learned the art of writing on a crowded bus or train. If a pen and paper feel awkward, write on your phone instead.

Cut the non-essentials

Whether it is watching TV, playing video games, hanging out with colleagues, or making small talk, cut everything except the bare essentials. It may sound extreme, but you are trying to make time, right?

Make use of weekends

Be honest: you don't work seven days a week, do you? Use your weekends to write and to plan your writing for the week ahead.

The biggest downside of writing in short bursts is that your ideas end up all over the place. Let the weekend be the time when you put everything in order.

Finish your chores first

When you leave things unfinished, they stay in the back of your mind while you write. That is counterproductive, so do what you need to do first, and then make the time to write.

Write now, polish later

Those are a few simple ways to make time for writing. Remember that you don't need to write well at first. The goal is to write and to leave the polishing for later, as separating writing from proofreading explains. If a deadline is pressing, writing on a deadline has more tips.

Don't worry about misspellings and bad grammar while you write, either. Check the finished text with the Spell Checker, and spend the time you save on writing even more.

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