Tips to Increase Your Writing Productivity

How to improve your mornings and stay productive throughout the day

There is beauty to waking up early in the morning as you can get so much stuff done. However, if you’re not a morning person like me, it can be tough.

As much as I tried to consistently go to bed early, I’m just naturally not a morning person. I’d always been tired and sluggish in the morning. My brain was shut off and I couldn’t write.

However, I saw the importance of doing work early in the morning, as you can get so much done. And since I’m also a parent with two kids, mornings are a golden time for me to write while the kids are still sleeping.

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

— Benjamin Franklin

If you aren’t a morning person and you wish you could be more productive in the morning, I can offer you some tips. The key is to start the day right and incorporate “power” foods into your diet.

Start your day right

How you start your morning and what you eat throughout the day can either make or break your productivity. Think of your body as a power machine. If you supply it with the right nutrients, then you will increase your productivity If you load it with junk, then it will take your productivity away.

My morning routine

What worked for me was incorporating a light physical activity with my morning cup of coffee.

As I wake up each morning, I don’t rush out of bed right away. I stay in bed and stretch my arms and legs for a while for about 10–15 minutes and I meditate.

Then, I quickly turn on my laptop. Seeing the bright light on my computer screen helps me to wake up more. I quickly check my e-mail while I am in bed. I open up curtains in my windows to let the sunlight hit the room. After that, I go straight to my coffee machine and make myself a cup of coffee.

Do light physical activity

Think of light chores you could do in the morning to incorporate into your morning routine. For example, while I take sips of my coffee, I do things like empty a dishwasher, sweep the kitchen floor, and put away things. You actually kill two birds with one stone: you get some chores done and you get your body moving. You can find what works best for you.

After I feel I’ve gotten some blood flow through my system, I start making myself a quick and easy breakfast.

For breakfast, I’d recommend that you go for light but nutrient-dense foods. Eat a light and healthy breakfast. Nothing too heavy. Swap simple carb foods with whole-grain foods like whole-grain bread toast, oatmeal, or wholesome cereal. Anything loaded with fiber and complex carbs to give you sustained energy to last through the afternoon.

Once you start your day off with some light physical activity and the right foods, you’ll feel more blood flow and more energy to tackle your day.

The combination of coffee and doing simple chores in the morning works great for me and helps me to start the day with the right mindset. By the time I sit down to write, I feel fully awake and alert. My energy is exuberant and I am motivated to write.

Foods to eat to boost your productivity

It’s not just how you start your day, it’s what you eat throughout the day that can affect your motivation to write. You need to reach for foods that will give you bursts of energy to last you through the day.

My three top fruit choices are citrus fruits, watermelon, and pineapple. All these foods are packed with Vitamin C, loaded with nutrients, and can hydrate your body. Since I started incorporating them into my diet, my energy levels and productivity have gone up.

Citrus fruits

Fruits from the citrus category are packed with nutrition and Vitamin C. You can eat an orange or drink a lemon juice made from freshly squeezed lemon sweetened with Stevia or honey. Nothing beats this drink for energy, especially on a hot summer day. I make a whole pitcher of home-made lemon juice and sip it throughout the day to keep my energy going.

Watermelon

Snacking on watermelon during the day gives me a boost of nutrition and energy. It is such a light fruit and yet you feel full when you eat it. Since watermelon is 90% of water, it also helps to keep me hydrated.

Pineapple

Like citrus fruits, this power fruit can give you a burst of energy. It is also hydrating and is packed with Vitamin C. It is a great way to beat your fatigue during the day.

Foods to avoid

To avoid being tired during the day and keep up your energy levels, I suggest staying away from these foods: simple carbs like white bread and pasta, empty-calorie sugary foods, and sweets. Especially if you start your day with these foods, they can drain you down and take away your motivation to write.

The key is not to load on simple carbs at the beginning of your day, but choose foods that will give you a sustained release of energy — your focus should be whole grains and fruits.

You can still indulge yourself with something sweet later on during the day, but do it after you served your body some justice and gave it the right nourishment. For example, when I write, I sip my coffee with a little sweet treat. I take little bites and munch on it slowly. This way I can enjoy it more and write at the same time. Again, moderation is the key.

Follow these tips every morning and you will start seeing great results. But do it every day and stay consistent.

Kristina Segarra is a classically trained musician, freelance writer, and copy editor/proofreader. She received her B.A. in Music and minor in psychology from CUNY, Hunter College in New York City. She likes to write on the topics of psychology, health, fitness, and lifestyle.

You can find more information about her on LinkedIn and Twitter.