Time Management For Writers
I’m a writer, both professionally and just for fun. I know that some writers are extremely disciplined- they schedule a time for writing every day, edit as they go, and meet certain word count quotas. MOST writers, however, are the opposite (including me). We write when inspiration strikes. Sometimes, we write pages and pages at once. Other times, we go weeks without a word. Procrastination and laziness are demons that writers must conquer, and it’s hard for creative minds. If you are a blogger, freelance writer, or aspiring author, read these productivity tips by Ali Luke at The Write Life:
-Turn off your internet connection
-Write down your intention before you begin, eg- “I will finish chapter 3 of my novel,” or “I will update the About section on my blog”.
-Sit quietly for three minutes before starting
-Set a timer and write, without stopping, until it goes off.
-Take (SCHEDULED) breaks
Friday Fun Video: Charge Your Phone With…Fidgeting?
Sitting in an office chair all day makes anyone restless. If you are prone to fidgeting, jostling, or otherwise not-being-able-t0-sit still, you might as well put that energy to some use!
Wordless Wednesday: Cork Board Work Space
Work From Home Idea: Search Engine Tester
I’m always on the lookout for new, interesting ways to work from home. I feel like when you’re out there looking for work from home jobs, you either get stuck with virtual assisting, or survey taking- neither of which are particularly fun or stimulating. I’m lucky, since I love writing and make my living as a blogger. Some other cool ideas I’ve found are: travel agent, literary editor, tutor, proofreader, social media expert, and now, a search engine evaluator. Sites like Google and Bing are always looking for people to make sure their services are working. Check out how to test them by reading this article by Ashlee Anderson at Work From Home Happiness:
Search Engine Evaluators rate the relevancy of search results based on user queries.
Some companies hiring evaluators:
Friday Fun Video: Cool Instagram Tips
These are great for anyone who markets on Instagram!
Why You Need A Blogging Schedule
If you are serious about earning an income as a blogger and working from home, you need a blogging schedule. Putting up a random post every week or two is simply not going to cut it. You actually have to sit down, come up with a post schedule, and stick to your writing days. Check out this post by Sarah White at The SITS Girls for how she does it:
-Come up with a big picture plan: What kinds of posts do you enjoy writing? Which ones have been your most popular? How often do you want to post?
-Get it on the calendar: Have a system in place, whether it’s a digital calendar or a hand written one.
-Plan daily: Create a daily task list and weekly task list, and stick to them.
Wordless Wednesday: Home Office Storage
The Weekend Is The Key To A More Productive Monday
When working from home, there is a constant battle between productivity and distraction going on. However, with preparation on Sunday, you can make Monday way easier and much less work. These weekend productivity tips by Shannon Rosenberg at Buzzfeed are great for any professional, but are perfect for work from homers:
-Write your Monday morning to-do list
-Make a list of weekly goals for everything you want to accomplish
-Empty all garbage cans in the house (and office) and take them out
-Go shopping for the whole week, prepare some healthy (distraction free) snacks.
-Take a walk
-Set an alarm to remind yourself when to go to sleep
