Of Course I Didn't Procrastinate. Really. ...Okay, I Did- But You Don't Have To!

So, now you've found the time to get writing, how do you actually...get on with it?

In a society where everything is instant, everything is everywhere, it's tricky to stay focused on one task for long. You can start off with good intentions, but soon find yourself watching videos of cats reacting to cucumbers. We’ve all been there.

Now, the obvious answer is to just put the distractions away, act like a grownup, and do the thing. If it were that simple, no one would ever get distracted from their goal. But in practicality, we need to plan around our inevitable plunge down the rabbit hole.

With that in mind, here are some ways we can be more productive:

1. First of all, scrap that list of vague, unachievable goals. Smart targets aren't just for work, they can be vital to any area of our lives where we want to achieve something. These are aims which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time- bound. Break down your goal- from what you want overall, to what that means for you on the day to day. And be honest with yourself if something is too much.

2. Block off time that is dedicated specifically to that goal. Maybe you want to make sure you have time to write every day, or perhaps you have a weekly date with your work in progress for editing. Whatever your aim, you will only ensure you regularly have time for it if you make it part of your schedule. For example, when I had no writing schedule, I would get to it whenever the other important stuff was done. But the joke was on me- as an adult, and as a teacher, the important jobs are never done! Once I set aside even just a couple of hours every Thursday and Saturday, I soon noticed that I was spending longer doing the writing that I love; I even found more time to do it on other days. But it was the writing routine which helped make my passion a habit.

3. This one is a tag on to the previous one, so I shall be brief- pomodoro! In short, the pomodoro technique is one that is used for those who struggle to dedicate time to a task, or cannot stay focused for long chunks, such as those with ADHD. For more information, check out my favourite source for ADHD information on YouTube, How To ADHD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLkOZhROvA4

4. Schedule what order your tasks need to go in, not what you want them to go in. This might sound odd, but putting off that one task till last that you really aren't sure you want to do will not be helpful in the long run. Knowing that task is creeping upon you as you go down your to do list will not make you feel good, even as you're checking off each one with a big old tick mark. Instead, try scheduling your least favourite one second. Yes, I know most people will encourage you to get the worst over and done with. But the very idea of beginning tasks at all is at risk when you schedule your worst to- do item at the top. Trick your brain into feeling good with a nice simple task to begin with and then dive right into your worst one while still riding the dopamine hit. You may still feel the task is unenjoyable or difficult, but you know that once you're done, there's nothing but an easier ride from there on in.

5. Accountability is my last piece of advice. Everyone has the temptation to put off tasks or scrap them altogether when no one is looking. It's why we have managers at work- it is natural human behaviour to want to do as little as possible when we can get away with it. Obviously, this little voice is a problem when the task we need to get done is also one we actually want to achieve. You can't write a blog post if you're pretending that you're too busy choosing the prettiest pen to buy for your writing notebook. And yes, that was my morning procrastination. Clearly, I need to follow my own advice. So the best way to combat that voice is with a stronger one- guilt. Now, I don't want anyone wallowing in buckets of shame over missing a task here and there, but I think we can utilise it to force ourselves to get on with the task at hand. I know that if I promise my husband that I will take out the rubbish before he gets home, nothing makes me run to the trash faster than hearing his car pull up. The same can motivate you in your writing, or indeed any other task that you just can't stay focused upon. Tell someone what you plan to get done that day, and you'll be surprised how much more motivated you are to finish it.

So, there's the list. There are plenty of other things to consider, like staying fuelled, rewarding task completion, and using white noise machines, but I think I've distracted you enough for one day.

Now, go do the thing!

No, seriously. Go do it.