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Abstract

at’s a serious time suck!</p><p id="aa34">Okay, once we know what apps are the problem, here’s the 1-second fix. Remove those distracting, time-sucking apps from your phone’s home screen. On Android, I just drag the icon to remove it. That’s it. And it literally takes one second to drag the app there.</p><p id="61be"><b>That’s right, just take those apps right off the home page.</b></p><p id="be6c"><i>Notice I’m not saying you need to delete them completely. (You can if you want. I just deleted Facebook from my phone and it felt great.)</i></p><p id="e8af">Best of all, you’ll still have those apps, but they will be buried with all of the other apps. This step will make it just a little harder to find those apps.</p><p id="7ac7">Now if writing is not giving you pleasure, of course you’re going to procrastinate and do something else. You could be making the writing really hard or even have unreasonable expectations for your work (which I realize I am doing as I’m writing my first novel).</p><p id="2a85">When a distracting app is only one quick tap away and it makes you feel good, your brain tells you to indulge in that reward. When you move distracting apps off of your home screen, the extra few seconds it takes gives your brain time to think about the situation. You start to weigh the cost versus the benefit.</p><h1 id="d6cb">Your Next Step As A Writer</h1><p id="26ed">You know the cure: make your writing easier. Break it down. Simplicity is KEY. And that’s how you’ll find some momentum. You want to feel good.</p><p id="c0d6">Wouldn’t

Options

you write more on your phone if the only app on your home screen was Google Docs or Evernote?</p><p id="7137">You can turn a distraction from your writing into a writing tool. Or it is possible that your phone is not the right tool for you to use. Maybe you should stick with paper. I’ve never had the urge to Tweet something when writing on a notepad.</p><p id="4475">Again, keep things simple and be honest with yourself.</p><h1 id="4b1d">A Final Word</h1><p id="4b75">Most of us — if not all of us — struggle with how we use our phones. But let’s take small steps like this to be more intentional with how we use our time and energy.</p><p id="c4a9">Ever notice how great stories don’t have people staring at their phones all the time? If you want to be a great writer who tells great stories you have to write.</p><h2 id="98a2">Want to build your writing habit?</h2><h2 id="f3e2">Join my free 5-Day Write First Challenge here.</h2><p id="c5de">Jim Woods is the co-author of the bestselling books <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Aim-Fire-Practical-Achieving/dp/1496045920/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=ready+aim+fire&qid=1583851915&sr=8-5">Ready Aim Fire</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Focus-Booster-Clarity-Better-Decisions-ebook/dp/B00N56ECEQ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=focus+booster&qid=1583852281&rnid=2941120011&s=books&sr=1-3">Focus Booster</a>. He is the creator and founder of StoryCrafting. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Life Hacker, Goinswriter, The Write Practice, and other publications.</p></article></body>

This 1-Second Trick Will Give You More Time To Write

Seriously, it will. No joke.

Are you struggling to find time to write? I totally get it. I’ve got some relief for you here. And this productivity tip will help because it is SO simple. I know firsthand that it actually works.

Here goes. First, pick up your phone. There are a few apps that you use A LOT. At least more than you’d like to admit. And all of those apps take away a lot more of your time than you think they do.

Maybe it’s Facebook. Or Instagram. Or Twitter. Or YouTube. Or email. Or even all of the above.

It’s Time To Get Super Honest With Yourself

So… what apps are the ones you use the most? For me, it’s YouTube. And it is the most dangerous because each video is 5–20 minutes long. Ding dang! That’s a serious time suck!

Okay, once we know what apps are the problem, here’s the 1-second fix. Remove those distracting, time-sucking apps from your phone’s home screen. On Android, I just drag the icon to remove it. That’s it. And it literally takes one second to drag the app there.

That’s right, just take those apps right off the home page.

Notice I’m not saying you need to delete them completely. (You can if you want. I just deleted Facebook from my phone and it felt great.)

Best of all, you’ll still have those apps, but they will be buried with all of the other apps. This step will make it just a little harder to find those apps.

Now if writing is not giving you pleasure, of course you’re going to procrastinate and do something else. You could be making the writing really hard or even have unreasonable expectations for your work (which I realize I am doing as I’m writing my first novel).

When a distracting app is only one quick tap away and it makes you feel good, your brain tells you to indulge in that reward. When you move distracting apps off of your home screen, the extra few seconds it takes gives your brain time to think about the situation. You start to weigh the cost versus the benefit.

Your Next Step As A Writer

You know the cure: make your writing easier. Break it down. Simplicity is KEY. And that’s how you’ll find some momentum. You want to feel good.

Wouldn’t you write more on your phone if the only app on your home screen was Google Docs or Evernote?

You can turn a distraction from your writing into a writing tool. Or it is possible that your phone is not the right tool for you to use. Maybe you should stick with paper. I’ve never had the urge to Tweet something when writing on a notepad.

Again, keep things simple and be honest with yourself.

A Final Word

Most of us — if not all of us — struggle with how we use our phones. But let’s take small steps like this to be more intentional with how we use our time and energy.

Ever notice how great stories don’t have people staring at their phones all the time? If you want to be a great writer who tells great stories you have to write.

Want to build your writing habit?

Join my free 5-Day Write First Challenge here.

Jim Woods is the co-author of the bestselling books Ready Aim Fire and Focus Booster. He is the creator and founder of StoryCrafting. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Life Hacker, Goinswriter, The Write Practice, and other publications.