7 Ways for Writers to Stop Procrastinating and Be More Productive

Summary

The article provides seven practical strategies for writers to overcome procrastination and enhance productivity.

Abstract

The author, a self-confessed procrastinator, shares personal insights into combating the habit of delaying tasks. The article outlines a methodical approach to writing, emphasizing the importance of scheduling writing sessions to reduce stress and increase output. It advises focusing on one task at a time to ensure completion, setting personal deadlines to create a sense of urgency, and choosing the right environment to foster a productive mindset. The author also suggests minimizing distractions, maintaining a clean workspace, and adopting a disciplined approach to task completion to prevent the cycle of postponement.

Opinions

The author believes that planning writing sessions is crucial for reducing stress and increasing productivity.
Multitasking is seen as counterproductive, with the author advocating for a sequential approach to writing tasks.
Setting deadlines is considered a key strategy for ensuring that writing projects are finished and published in a timely manner.
The author emphasizes the importance of a dedicated writing space, separate from areas of relaxation, to maintain focus and prevent procrastination.
Distractions such as phones and TVs should be turned off to enhance concentration during writing sessions.
A clean and organized writing environment is linked to mental clarity and the ability to concentrate on the task at hand.
The author stresses the importance of immediate action, cautioning against the habit of indefinite postponement.

Tips to my fellow procrastinators

Being a procrastinator is not easy. I constantly struggle with barely making my deadlines, paying the rent the day it’s due, and constantly stressing over not getting things done, while not doing anything to get them done. I found myself watching videos and reading articles on how to become more motivated, desperately trying to find a way to be more productive. After testing many things and ways on how to be more productive, I found 7 that really worked for me. So dear fellow procrastinators, I am happy to announce that there is still hope for us. Here are the 7 tips and tricks I found that helped me be more productive and write more.

Plan your writing sessions

Something that really helped me be more productive was to plan my writing sessions. By making a schedule and writing down what days you’ll do what, and also what you want to write about, you’ll find yourself less stressed about getting things done and eventually writing more. You’ll have everything already planned out for you so all you need to do is get the job done. It might be hard at first, but once you get into it, it will become a habit and you will automatically find yourself being more productive.

Stop multitasking

By doing one thing at a time, you’ll find yourself getting more things done. If you have several stories you want to write about, start and finish one of them at a time, instead of writing a little bit in each and every one of them. This will guarantee that you actually finish writing your stories, rather than only writing a few sentences in each of them. This was definitely one of my biggest mistakes. I always started writing a story but never finished it before starting on a new one. When I got a new story idea while in the middle of another story, instead of starting writing about it immediately, I wrote down the idea in my schedule. This way I made sure I never forgot about my ideas, as well as I made sure I published the story I was already writing.

Set deadlines

Setting deadlines for yourself will help you get your stories finished and published. This will also help you stop procrastinating. You’ll pressure yourself to finish writing a story instead of pushing it for some other day to be finished. This does sound easier than it actually is, but it’s totally a game changer once you actually do it.

Where you write is important

Writing on your couch or bed might sound comfortable, but this will only make you sleepy and procrastinate getting your work done. Instead, try sitting by a desk or a table. This will help you separate a comfy environment from the work environment. Another important thing is lighting. Good lighting will make you less tired and helps you stay more focused. For instance, if you write with only a dimmed light on, chances are you’ll get tired and stop writing and instead, either go to sleep or watch a movie. Your brain will interpret it as your comfy environment. This will make it harder for you to get things done, and eventually procrastinate your work. Instead, try using natural lighting. If you like writing at night, try using a few more lights to light up the room you’re writing in.

Make sure your environment is clean

Virtual order also creates order in your head. Having a clean desk where you write, will help you focus more and not get distracted by the things surrounding you. Your brain will focus on what you’re doing rather than your environment. This will also stop you from cleaning every time you have work to do because everything will already be clean.

Stop yourself from procrastinating!

Stop telling yourself you’ll get it done tomorrow because tomorrow will become the day after, and the day after will become never. If you stop postponing things you’ll get more things done. Doing it now and getting it done now, is better than leaving it for another day. Because when that day comes, you’ll have other things to do, and the thing you wanted to get done will eventually never get done.