Easy Everyday Habits to Help You Achieve a Writing Routine

Have you ever seen an author hammer out ten new releases a year and wonder if they are some kind of robot?

It turns out there’s no real mystery to it other than simple everyday habits.

Now, if the word “habits” makes you wince a little, I get it. It sounds like a lot of work. It is, but… it also isn’t.

But it’s true what they say: If you can stick with a new habit long enough, you’ll forget it’s a habit.

Good habits can definitely help you become a better and more productive author and still have time for the other things you enjoy.

I know because I made it my mission to produce high-quality fiction while also homeschooling my daughter, keeping our house, and even doing a few hobbies on the side. At first, I got tripped up by the idea that I HAD to keep up with those rapid-release authors and bestsellers.

I couldn’t because I’m not a single woman without any cares in the world (is anyone, really?)

So if you’ve been struggling to stay consistent and productive, you’re not alone. Most people either work too hard or not hard enough in the beginning. I know that sounds like a really difficult scale to measure yourself by, so we’ll dig in deeper.

The real key to success is having a strict routine you can follow without fail, and that includes making time for things that give you an energy boost that ARE NOT writing. What? Did I just say you can write more by writing less? Well, sort of!

Read on to discover three easy author habits to help you be more productive.

,#1. If you are running short on time, don’t use it to write.

Honestly, at first, it was hard to follow through with this one because I wasn't used to it. I thought every free moment should be poured into writing those novels, but it was too exhausting, and I hit burnout quite a lot.

However, simply existing in your free time is critical for your creativity. When you feel rushed, you often block your ability to pretend (and that’s really what we do, right?)

So if you find it challenging to ignore your writing when you have free time, you’re not alone.

It’s so easy to think, “I have half an hour. I can hammer out a whole page in that time!” or “I have ten minutes to edit that page, and it’s one less to do later!)

But remember, you can’t produce quality work without quality rest, and that goes for brain rest too.

Here’s the good news:

You don’t need to devote a hundred hours a week to writing novels in order to be highly productive.

Start off by committing to doing something else you love for 20 minutes a day.

Once you make it part of your routine, it will not only become a regular habit but something that gives your author brain a chance to recharge!

You can also set clearly defined goals to help you focus every day or week or other length of time you can plan.

Keep in mind that free time looks different for everyone, so what works for someone else may not work for you, and that’s okay. All you have to do is commit to enjoying life outside of writing, and the rest will follow.

Having a support system of other authors (preferably a few more advanced than you) can help you recognize burnout before it ravages your ability to focus. They can offer suggestions to ease your anxiety about “getting this book done” and help you detox from that overachieving mindset.

One of the best decisions I made while trying to avoid burnout was to learn to make super nutritious food from scratch. It was too easy for us to order a pizza on Friday night so I could work, but now we make homemade pizza and spend time as a family, and when I sit to write, the ideas flow much better.

At first, you might feel guilty that you are not writing, but it's okay! It’s natural to feel that way when we are measuring our success by others’ success. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we do our best work when our minds are stable.

And if you’re really ready to set [habit] in stone, use [some popular productivity or time management tool][insert a link] to lock it in so you always set aside time for it.

,#2. Don’t skip out on sleep

I underestimated the power of sleep, but it's crucial to your health and well-being as well as your creative process, so it’s worth paying attention to.

For a long time, I burned that candle at both ends. I was up early taking care of my kiddo, doing homeschooling, and cleaning the house, then I was up late writing or editing. I reached a point where five hours of sleep was a gift.

But when you don’t sleep, you’re likely to have brain fog, health issues, and chronic crankasaurus (my child’s term, not mine), which undermines your ability to write, serve your family, and keep your body in good shape so you don’t, you know… die.

Skipping sleep will ultimately cause more harm than good.

Your sleep-deprived brain is not a reliable narrator.

So even if you have to make a deadline, make sure you sleep enough to keep yourself in tip-top shape.

If you’re having a hard time sleeping thanks to an overactive brain, here are some things I try:

Eat a lighter dinner, and don’t eat anything in the last two hours before bed Use magnesium spray (I’m not a doctor, but this stuff works like a miracle for me… still, consult your doctor) No screen time an hour before bed (blue light is killer)

,#3. Dedicate time to writing that works within your family’s schedule

This one can be extra challenging, especially if you’re used to writing whenever you get the chance, the topic I discussed in the first point.

Often, I would assume I had free time to write only to discover my husband had a doctor’s appointment he’d forgotten to write on the calendar, or my child would come down with a virus, or the dog would get sick. I was immediately annoyed because my schedule was messed up.

When your writing time varies, you confuse everyone whose life does not include time for creative writing.

How do you remedy this issue? You schedule time for writing that works for everyone. Yes, there will still be some incidents, but if your spouse knows you’ll be working for two hours every afternoon, then said spouse knows to work around it or discuss it with you.

If writing is a career choice for you, treat it like one. Schedule the time, and stick to it. And when it’s NOT time, do something else. I know, I know… It’s so hard to walk away from those stories, but that’s all they are. They are stories, and real life is happening all around you. Find time to enjoy it while also dedicating time to your craft.

Here are a few ways this works in my family:

Each week we review our schedules and decide on Mom’s “work time” I set a timer so I know when my time is up, and the family knows not to interrupt We ensure there are loads of fun family activities included so no one feels left out or ignored

Wrapping it up...

Whether you’re new to writing, have been at it for a while, or just want a way to be productive without hitting burnout, these habits will help you do that.

All you need to do is stick to a routine that works for you and your family. It doesn’t have to look the same every day, but the habits should be maintained. For example, two hours of writing per day, one hour of exercise, half an hour at the park, an hour of family dinner time, and so on. Flexibility can easily be built in to work with your family flow. No military-style scheduling is necessary!

Remember, it takes time and dedication, and failure is part of the process. So if you go off track at any point, that’s completely normal. Don’t beat yourself up and lose time worrying about it. Get right back to it. You got this!