“Success is not a goal to reach or a finish line to cross. It is a system to improve, an endless process to refine.” - James Clear
Hello, dear friend! You’ll find this post useful if you’re working on a dissertation or another important writing project. Thank you for taking time to read my blog! This post is inspired by Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear. I find Clear’s ideology of “tiny changes, remarkable results” incredibly encouraging to create good writing habits. I’m sharing this with you because I know how tough writing can be (especially when you’re on a deadline). I hope this post motivates you and helps you meet your writing goals.
Clear outlines four laws to building and sustaining a good habit: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. By the time you finish reading this post, you’ll be equipped with practical steps to ensure your writing routine aligns with each of these laws.
First things, first: Be honest with yourself
Before delving into what I call “Atomic Writing”, I must share a controversial statement: you don’t have writer’s block. That’s right! Writer’s block isn’t real.
“But, Jenesis, I know I have writer’s block! I can’t get myself to write for the life of me. Seriously! No matter what I do (and I’ve tried e v e r y t h i n g), I cannot write! The only explanation is “writer’s block!”
No. You don’t have writer’s block. I’m sorry/not sorry to be the one to break it to you. “Writer’s block” is an easy explanation for our lack of progress; it gives us something concrete to blame. Rather than face our problems head on, we’ve conjured or inherited the concept of “writer’s block” because it is a more acceptable explanation for our distress. Think about it: telling yourself or others that you have “writer’s block” gets you off the hook. If you want to write effectively, you need to be honest with yourself. Stop waiting for “writer’s block” to disappear. Face your problems, friend, no matter how tough or trivial they seem.
Behind the “writer’s block” mask are a million other possibilities. Maybe you’re not writing because you:
Fear that your writing is not good enough
Feel overwhelmed by the amount of words to be written
Don’t know if or when to reach out for help
Struggle with anxiety
Struggle with depression
Prioritize other people’s agendas and need to set better boundaries
Haven’t made time to actually sit down and determine what you need to do in order to have a productive writing session
Do any or all of the above apply to you? Don’t worry. The good news is that our brain is constantly looking for solutions to problems. In order to solve them, though, you must identify them and name them. Trust yourself. You know why you aren’t writing. You know what needs to change in order to write again. There might not be permanent solutions for any of the obstacles I listed above, but it is possible for things to get better.
I. Make it Obvious: Find Your Perfect Writing Environment
“Motivation is overrated, often, environment matters more.” —James Clear
In order to write, make sure you’re set up for success! You’re more likely to write if you make it easy for yourself. If you want to write first thing in the morning, consider keeping your laptop (computer, journal, whatever you use to write) in plain sight. This visual cue will prompt you to begin your morning writing session. You’re less likely to write if you have to dig through your backpack or rummage through your desk to find your laptop. Get rid of unnecessary distractions. The only materials on my desk include a pen & dissertation journal (for random notes/ideas), my phone *on Do Not Disturb Mode* to keep track of time, and my laptop. Less is more. You have everything you need for a good writing session as long as you have your writing tools and a space conducive to writing. It can also help to incorporate encouraging messages to your writing routine. My laptop is covered in motivational stickers that make me smile. Right next to my track pad is a pretty “You got this” sticker, in glittery, cursive font.
It will be easier to create your ideal writing environment if you have your own office. But, if you’re not lucky enough to have an office or would rather work elsewhere, write in a space where you’re surrounded by other focused people. Working at a library works wonders for me. When I’m at a library, I find a quiet reading or study room. This disciplined environment encourages me to focus. If I look away from my laptop, I’ll see someone else working diligently and feel motivated to get back to my own work. Libraries also mean less interruptions and easy access to restrooms (we should stay hydrated on this writing journey, friends! My daily goal is to drink half my body weight # in ounces of water). If I’m at a coffee shop, I tend to encounter more distractions and the additional worry about bathroom access and/or purchasing items to warrant my lengthy stay. Coffee shops definitely have their appeal though; I’ve had some good writing sessions at coffee shops that have plenty of table space, outlets, restroom access, and a good playlist. Whatever works for YOU.
II. Make It Attractive: Use Temptation Bundling
“The expectation of a rewarding experience motivates us to act.”—James Clear
How do we make writing more enticing? We connect it with things we enjoy doing and other things that we should be doing.
This practice is what James Clear calls “temptation bundling”. The key to temptation bundling is to link an action you want to do, with an action you need to do. For example: I want to see cute puppy posts on Instagram, I need to work on my dissertation. Something else I like is drinking coffee! How can I create a positive relationship between these “needs” and “wants”?
After I make my morning cup of coffee, I will write one page.
After I write one page, I will check the dogsofinstagram account for 5 minutes
If you’re like PSHHH, EASY PEASY, I agree! For the overachievers reading this post (yes, YOU), let’s take things up a notch. Create a set of rules that follows the following format:
After (current habit), I will (habit I need) 2. After (habit I need), I will (something I want), then incorporate (habit I want)
Example: After (I make a cup of coffee), I will (write one page). After I (write one page), I will (go through my insta feed for 5 minutes), and then I will (do 5 minutes of an ab workout) to work on those abs I’ve always wanted! After my ab workout, I will make coffee/tea/drink water, then write another page, then check instagram for funsies, and then do a 5 min ab workout (and repeat until my dissertation is done and my abs mirror Jennifer Lopez’s). Okay that challenge sounds pretty intense, but that’s why it’s a challenge!
The idea behind temptation bundling is that you’ll eventually look forward to writing because you’ll get to do the things you want to do when you do the things you need to do!
III. Make It Easy: Try the Pomodoro Technique
If you want to start with something more straight-forward, try the Pomodoro Technique. The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo to improve productivity. This technique is useful and super easy to implement. The magic here is breaking your writing sessions up into manageable time blocks (pomodoros) using the following structure:
Write for 25 minutes
After 25 minutes, take a five minute break (That’s one pomodoro)
Write for 25 minutes again
After those 25 minutes are up, take another five minute break (That makes up two pomodoros)
Write for another 25 minutes
After those 25 minutes, what do you do? You guessed it! Take another 5 minute break (Three pomodoros so far!)
Write for 25 minutes
After those 25 minutes…wait for it—you get to take a 30 minute break! Celebrate good times, come on! (Let’s celebrate!) You deserve it! (Four pomodoros down!)
Depending on how much time you have for your writing sessions, you might get through a few of these rounds but even one full set will mean you spent one whole hour focused on your writing! Once you get the hang of it, try temptation bundling with your pomodoros (during break times, incorporate current habits and habits you want).
If you want some help keeping track of the pomodoros, consider downloading an app. I personally use “Focus Keeper” to log my productivity.
IV) Make it Satisfying: Reward Yourself and Track Your Progress
Writing will not always (or ever) feel good! I consider myself a “writer” and writing this dissertation has often been e x c r u c i a t i n g. How can you help your brain not hate the writing process? Rewards. Sweet, sweet, rewards! You have to reward yourself after every writing session. If you do this, your writing routine will get 10,000 times better. Treat yourself to your favorite beverage or snack immediately after your writing session. You can also reward yourself with an episode of your favorite show! The key to any successful habit is to make it rewarding.
Also, be sure to track your progress; you’ll look forward to getting better over time. How do you track a writing routine? Here are a couple of ideas of what you can track:
Word count (seeing the number go up is always exciting!)
Time spent (example: 2 hours of focused writing time today)
Okay, enough reading—it’s time to start writing! Sometimes, the hardest part is getting started. You’re ready to write like a pro.
Repeat after me: “It’s writing time. I can do this. No excuses. No distractions. I got this!”
In solidarity,
Jenesis