Fit Writing into your Busy Life

Finding time to write can be difficult. We all know it. But I’m starting to realise that there’s more time in the day than I’d allowed myself to believe before. Many artists are procrastinators and I think sometimes we writer’s do it without even realising it.

It could be because we want out writing time to be perfect. It’s something we love, after all, and so we want it to be all comfortable, with a hot chocolate, biscuits, a big blanket and fluffy socks surrounded by notebooks and novels!

Now, I’m not denying that those are some of the best writing times, but what I am saying is that writing time doesn’t have to be perfect. Not if you don’t have time for it to be. You can write anywhere at anytime (within reason) and I’d like to share with you four ways in which to fit writing into your busy life!

1. Fit writing around work (or school)

This can be one of the hardest ones of all because if you work or study full time then it takes up big chunks of your day and mental energy. But there are still little ways in which you can fit writing into your working day.
On the Commute
Now, this won’t work for everyone. If you drive to work I highly recommend keeping your focus on the road! However, if you take the bus or the train then the journey to and from work becomes a perfect time to put pen to paper! Even if you walk, you can use this to your advantage. When I walk to/from work I purposely think of my story and what I need to write next. I usually come up with enough ideas to scribble them down quickly when I arrive.
Lunch Break
You can always try and fit in a few words while you’re on your lunch break. Though I appreciate this may not be as easy if you spend your break socialising with colleagues/class mates.

2. Fit writing around socialising

Personally, I don’t spend a great deal of time socialising. What with work, uni, chronic illness and day to day life I prefer to spend my free time relaxing at home. However, I do go and see friends when I can and if you need to fit writing around your social life here’s some ideas:
Write on the journey
My best friend lives about an hour train journey from me, so whenever I meet up with her I always use the time spent on the train or bus to write. You may have friends within walking distance, but if you’re ever going to see friends or family from a distance consider taking public transport instead of driving and there you have it; writing time!
Set time aside
If you know you’re spending time with friends, whether it’s a day or just an afternoon/evening you can try and set time aside to write. If you tell yourself that you have to write for an hour before you go then you’re more likely to hold yourself to it and keep to your routine.

3. Fit writing around exercising

I am not an unfit person as such, but I try to exercise when I can. I work in an office for 8 hours a day, sat at a desk, and then my hobbies (writing and reading) involve me sitting down too. I try to keep active as often as possible, but it never seems more important to me than working on my novel. So I found a way to incorporate it.
Exercise outside
For me, I can’t stand gyms. So when I do exercise it’s usually a run, a walk or a bike ride. One thing I’ve found recently, to my delight, is that if I go on an evening bike ride, while the sky is full of beautiful sunset colours, I am inspired! A mixture of fresh air and being alone and in silence for a time gives me a perfect opportunity to think about my novel. Only earlier this week my final, finishing chapter came to me on a bike ride! I cycled home and wrote and wrote until my wrist hurt. The point is, had I stayed home, I probably wouldn’t have thought of my ending at all.

4. Fit writing around appointments

Life is full of appointments; doctors, hospitals, dentists, hair dressers…they easily begin to fill up those spare hours. However, nine times out of ten when you attend an appointment you have to wait. Boring, right? Or…perfect! I actually, if I can, deliberately arrive at the doctor’s half an hour early. Then, with nothing to do but wait, I have a perfect opportunity to write down some ideas!

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I understand that it’s not always as simple as simply writing, but you really must try to make it a habit. Once I started telling myself I had to write every day, even if it was just a little bit, it became such a routine that I couldn’t bear not to do it!

I hope this helps. If you have any tips of your own please post below!
I’d love to hear from you.
Until then,

Keep writing,
M. x