5 Little Ways to Boost Your Writing Productivity
Even on our best days, writing can be hard. Maybe it’s not always the act of writing itself, but the things you need to start, and focus, on your writing. Finding inspiration, staying motivated, and boosting productivity are all plights every writer faces often.
It doesn’t matter what type of writer you are. Whether you write for personal fulfillment, or whether you write to pay the bills, a huge factor in being able to turn out quality writing quickly relies on the strength of our productivity levels.
So, what’s a writer to do when the sun of productivity is no longer shining its rays down on us? You don’t have to wait for the clouds to leave; take matters into your own hands and find a system that works for you.
Here are three little ways to boost writing productivity that can be helpful the next time you have to write, and just can’t find your flow.
1). Turn on white noise
This might be a given depending on your current writing routine, but even as seasoned writers, it’s surprising how often we forget to do this on a consistent basis. And for me, it actually makes a huge difference in my productivity.
Some writers like silence, some writers like noise. But having subtle white noise in the background can provide a happy medium. Just do a quick YouTube search, and you’ll find a variety of white noise options to choose from. My personal favorites are the airplane white noise and crackling fireplace videos.
If you prefer music to white noise, try brain-stimulating tunes like classical, or my go-to genre: hypnotic electronic.
2). Chew gum
Remember testing days in school when teachers would pass out peppermints and chewing gum? No? Well it was a thing for me growing up.
The teachers claimed it helped improve concentration and focus, and science proves them right. According to various studies, chewing gum can help improve brain function, specifically when it comes to memory, alertness, anxiety reduction, and learning.
When you’re feeling restless at the keyboard, and struggling to get your book’s word count out, pop a stick of gum in your mouth and start chewing. It just might help you focus on your craft for a longer burst of writing time.
3). Switch to Pen and Paper
Technology is great for everyday writing, but when you’re really struggling to get the words out, try to switch it up and pull out good ole’ pen and paper.
Sometimes writing software just doesn’t cut it, even with all the fancy bells and whistles that are designed to improve your writing productivity and organization.
There’s something cathartic about writing with the most basic tools, especially for finding your flow zone. It’s similar to writing cursive, which has been proven to stimulate brain synchronicity between the left and right hemispheres, and positively affects thinking, language and memory.
If you’re having difficulty finding a flow zone, turn away from the keyboard and only allow yourself to use a trusty ink pen and loose-leaf paper.
4). Don’t edit while you write
You’ve probably heard this one a million times, but it’s worth repeating. Do not edit and write.
When you try to edit as you write, you interrupt your flow and concentration. Instead of focusing on getting the words out, you overthink how those words should look. Just get the words out. Focus on how they look and sound later.
Writing and self-editing are two very different processes, and when you try to do both in conjunction, it can block your creativity more than you realize.
I really struggle with this, and what helps me is really just being mentally aware. I focus on getting each word out, and I keep my eyes only on the word I’m writing. This way, it’s more difficult to read my previous sentences. When I’m completely finished with the writing session, only then will I go back and re-read what I wrote. Then, I’ll close my notebook or turn off the computer, and move on to my next task.
5). Go outside
Where you write matters, and even though many of us have set up our own personal writing space, sometimes the very areas where we get the most writing done can cause us to lose productivity, especially when we’re struggling with writer’s block.
The cure? Change up your scenery.
Temporarily removing yourself from the area where you usually write can be like a fresh breath of fresh air — literally.
If you work from home, take a stroll and find a spot outside to write. Coffee shops, libraries, public parks, and picnic stops are all good ideas, too.
The next time you feel like doing anything other than writing, try one of these productivity hacks.
Be open-minded, and seek out new ways to shake up you writing routine. Eventually, you’ll discover new strategies that work best for you.
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