11 Little Things You Can Do to Boost Writing Productivity

Would you like to boost writing productivity, but you’re not sure how?

Sometimes the smallest changes can create the largest impacts, so below I have 11 small changes you can make to increase your writing productivity. I’ve made all of these changes at one time or another and they all worked for me, so I hope they can do the same for you!

Boost Writing Productivity 1. Write first.

I am a night owl and used to do most of my fiction writing at night, but my writing time was often interrupted by other events (like music rehearsals) or I was just too tired to focus, so I changed to first thing in the morning. It made all the difference.

This works for a couple of reasons. First, if you get up and go directly to the computer and write, your brain will still be half-asleep. This is perfect for creativity, as your inner editor (critic) won’t have completely awakened. As a result, the writing will flow more easily.

Second, it feels wonderful to get even 500 words pounded out before you’re called to your other responsibilities. No matter what else happens, you’ll enjoy a sense of accomplishment because you got your writing done.

I’d suggest setting the alarm and getting up at a time that allows you 30 minutes to write before you do anything else—even before breakfast. It may be hard the first few times, but if you stick with it, it will get easier.

2. Use calendars and lists.

You can “want” to get more writing done all day long, but it’s unlikely to happen if you don’t schedule a time and date to do it. If you already work with a calendar, use it to pencil in your writing times each week, but if you don’t, now is the time to get one. You can use a print or online calendar, whatever works best for you.

To-do lists can be effective, too, but they’re often not as helpful as calendars when it comes to getting the writing done. You can have “write chapter 3” on your to-do list all week and still not find the time to do it. It’s better to have a calendar that has “write chapter 3” scheduled in for 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

Read more about to-do lists and calendars here.

Boost Writing Productivity 3. Shut of ALL distractions, every time.

Don’t fool yourself that you can concentrate just as well with your cell phone nearby, the television on, or in a public area where you may be interrupted. If you want to focus quickly and get as many words down as possible, you absolutely must make sure that you will not be distracted by anything or anyone.

Studies show that we keep our attention more firmly on a task when the cell phone is completely out of the room. If it’s off but nearby, your brain will still think about what notifications or messages you may be getting, so put it somewhere else and give yourself every chance to focus completely on your story.

4. Say “no” more often.

If you’re allowing others to trample on your writing time, you may want to practice saying “no” more often. You don’t have to justify your writing to anyone. If it’s important to you, you owe it to yourself and your development as a creative artist to protect your writing time.

Once you schedule it, don’t let anything else but a true emergency make you deviate from that schedule. And don’t feel like you have to explain: “I’m sorry, but I usually write during that time.” Instead, just say, “I’m sorry, I’m not available then.” End of story.

Boost Writing Productivity 5. Don’t skip your exercise routine.

Every time I hear a writer say he or she skipped an exercise routine to write, I cringe a little. Yes, sometimes it can’t be helped, but it’s best not to make a habit of it. If you’re struggling to fit exercise into your daily schedule, it’s time to take a look at that schedule, because regular exercise is critical to writing productivity.

Exercise boosts energy and helps your brain to focus and be more creative. The less you exercise, the more fatigue and brain fog you will experience. That’s a fact! So don’t skip one for the other. Find a way to fit at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine—without stepping on your writing time.

6. Cut the time you give yourself in half.

Look at the other tasks you do throughout your day, and how long you give yourself to do them. Then give yourself half that time to do them the next time around. If you usually give yourself an hour to fix dinner, for example, cut that back to 30 minutes. If it takes you 2 hours to clean the house, cut it back to 1 hour.

How long it takes to complete a task expands to the time you give yourself to complete it. It’s just the way it works. So try giving yourself less time and see if you can rise to the challenge. Most of the time you’ll be able to—you’ll surprise yourself. And when you do, you’ll end up with more time to devote to writing and platform-building.

Boost Writing Productivity 7. Focus on progress, not perfection.

Many writers are perfectionists, which slows down productivity. If you struggle with perfectionism, try focusing more on progress than perfection. It matters more if you write 500 words than if those words are perfect, for example. You can always go back and fix them later. Allow yourself to write stuff that’s not great—it’s okay as long as you get words on the page.

You can apply this to other projects in your life, too. Work on making progress with each task and let it be “good enough” rather than perfect. This may make you nervous, but realize that your fear of failure is holding you back. Be brave, choose those projects that are not that important, completely them in half the time you’d usually allow yourself and let them go.

8. Restrict emails and social media to specific times.

Continually checking emails and social media feeds throughout the day slows your productivity.

Set specific times to check both of these—say for 30 minutes in the morning, and 30 minutes at the end of the day. The rest of the time, make social media off limits and focus solely on your tasks, and you’ll get them done much more quickly.

Boost Writing Productivity 9. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends.

Sleep is critical to good health, and it also makes a huge difference in your ability to focus and get your work done. Many writers don’t get enough, however. In fact, sleep deprivation is such a big problem that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls it a public health epidemic.

The best way to make sure you get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night, go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This will train your body and brain to fall asleep and stay asleep more regularly.

Other tips that can help include avoiding caffeine and alcohol at least four hours before bed, keeping your bedroom cool and quiet, making sure you have a quality supportive mattress, and engaging in a quiet activity like reading, stretching, or crafting before bed.

10. Find an accountability partner.

You’re more likely to keep up with your writing goals if you have someone else who is aware of those goals. Whether in person or online, find an accountability partner that can help motivate you and keep you on task.

Look for someone who is equally devoted to his or her writing practice, and who wants to improve productivity, then plan to check in with each other regularly—say once a month or so. Knowing that you have someone else who will soon know whether you kept up your end of the bargain can be just the thing you need to follow through with your writing even on days when you may not feel like it.

Boost Writing Productivity 11. Get organized the day before.

Planning out your day the night before can make a huge difference in how long it takes you to do things. It eliminates the decisions you have to make the next day, freeing up your mind for focus and creativity. It also helps lessen the time you have to take to do any task, making everything flow more easily and smoothly.

Some ideas:

• Set out the clothes you’re going to wear, including your exercise clothes.
• Plan out your meals and snacks so they’re ready to go.
• Determine the top three priorities you have for the next day.
• Decide when and where you’re going to write.

This one method can make a huge difference in your daily productivity!

How do you increase your writing productivity?