My Easy and Simple Writing Routine That Has Helped Me Write Over 500 Articles In Last 2 Years
All you need is 30 minutes and less to win this game
I love routines and rituals.
To me, they feel like sacred grains of doing anything extraordinary.
There is no need to plan, prep, procrastinate, or hang between “what if…” scenarios.
If I were to tell you my secret, I am obsessed with to-do lists, putting everything in my calendar, and using post-it notes to remind me of everything I need to do throughout my days.
You may wonder why I do it.
A friend once pointed out to me that it feels like I’m leading a robotic life with less room for spontaneity.
To be honest, I hate surprises, unknown scenarios, and making similar decisions repeatedly.
I prefer to organize, plan, and I love graphs and charts.
They help me stay on track and focused.
My simple view is that if I need to do certain things every day, why do I need to think twice?
I can either automate or set up focused time to do them.
No wonder, no surprises, no last-minute hiccups.
I call it a winning routine.
With my full-time 9–5 job, when I decided to write three articles per week along with my two newsletter articles, I needed a routine and a system that would help me generate creative ideas without burning myself out.
With that in mind, this is my writing routine that I’ve been following for the last six months, which has helped me write 500+ articles on the internet alongside my full-time job.
Your day starts the night before.
When I end my day, I write down one or two important things I need to do the next day.
Specifically speaking about writing and how I write, here’s what I do:
- Write one outline for my next article
- Write one outline for my newsletter
This helps me know what I am supposed to write and allows me to dump my thoughts the next day.
I don’t need to think about a new idea or what I am supposed to write.
Sometimes, the outline for one article helps me generate ideas for the next one.
That’s how I roll. It’s simple and easy to follow.
Batching my edits:
If you were to ask me what I like the least about writing, I would probably tell you it’s editing my articles.
When it comes to editing, I have a dreadful feeling.
However, I need to edit my articles, right?
What I do is batch my edits during the week into small editing sessions.
I have my outline and a dump on paper.
I pick a section of the dump and edit it, which usually takes me around 30 minutes to make it ready.
I repeat this process for the next 2 hours, taking 5-minute breaks with every editing session.
This approach has been a game changer for me and has helped me not hate editing.
I write my outlines in one batch and edit one article every day.
I write from 6–8 PM most days and batch them for the next day.
Hot masala tea and my favorite playlist:
If you’re familiar with my writing, you know my love for hot masala tea and how much I talk about productivity hacks.
I’m lazy and I don’t like making decisions every day.
My laziness has helped me level up my productivity game.
One creator shared about using the Google Timer and a playlist to see how much time they have spent doing actual work.
This is how I do it:
- Set a 30-minute timer on the Google Timer app.
- Sit for 30 minutes to write before getting up.
- Create a playlist that is 3 hours long.
- Whenever I stop doing my work, I stop the playlist.
This approach helps me actually see how much time I spend on the task.
I cycle it for 2 hours.
Of course, interruptions may occur, such as phone calls, urgent messages, or distractions.
It’s an ambitious goal, and if I manage to do it 70–80% of the time, I consider it a success.
It means I’m able to get into writing and deeply think about the topic.
There is no competition.
I’m here to do my best.
This mindset has been game changer for me.
Zero to minimal distractions:
As I mentioned above, I usually spend 2 hours every day writing.
However, you know that whenever you decide to do something, the entire world seems ready to distract you.
I’m not joking.
It could be a phone call from a colleague to catch up on some report, last-minute updates that need to go to a client and can’t wait until the next day, or the latest trendy deals on social media and gossip that everyone is talking about.
But these distractions are things I can’t afford.
I don’t have the luxury to indulge in such conversations.
Honestly, I’m not interested in knowing what doesn’t align with my writing routine.
I keep my phone in another room, disable most app notifications on my Apple Watch, and only keep open the tabs I’m working on.
I’m here to give my 100% to writing, and everything else can take a back seat.
Aim for 80% of genuinely good work, and the rest will follow.
A running list of ideas:
I keep a notebook where I usually write down some of my ideas.
It doesn’t matter how bad or good they seem.
Post-it notes are also something I love.
Whenever I’m short of ideas or articles, I go back to my notes to refer to some of the ideas I’ve written.
It helps me overcome writer’s block.
With this method, I don’t need to remember everything and can put my brain at rest.
So I write it down, forget about it, and get back to writing.
You can use anything you prefer, like a Google Doc or various apps like Typeshare or Copy.ai.
Handling bad days:
There are days when I don’t feel my best or when my energy is low.
Some days are just plain bad.
Nothing seems to work, and it can be disheartening.
Instead of going downhill, I embrace those days and accept that it’s okay to feel low when nothing seems to be working.
And that’s okay.
I allow myself to accept that it’s okay, as bad days happen. I’m not perfect, and I’m not aiming to be.
I’m aiming to do my best and find joy in the writing process.
It’s not about ticking off another checklist.
Embracing this mindset has really helped me deal with bad days and not beat myself up for them.
It’s okay to have bad days; it’s part of life.
In summary, for me, writing is meditative and therapeutic.
The writing process brings joy to my life.
If you’re a new creator or starting your writing journey, it’s okay not to be 100% perfect because you can’t be. Aim to do 80% good, and you’re golden.
Let your writing flow and reflect from time to time to see what’s working and what’s not. And be okay with imperfection.
The tiny mistakes you make along the way are what make you human.
Create a sustainable writing routine with flexibility whenever you need it.
All the best!
Hope this helps you to create your own path.
Have something to share, reply in the comments.
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