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Abstract

82f4">Now, you’re lucky if you can even get to it before devouring political threads and memes.Your brain isn’t safe if you’re not intentional about guarding your writing time.So it’s imperative that when you’re spiraling into a funk of unproductivity, you remember these two things.<h2 id="9e70">1. If you don’t write now, it will hurt later</h2>When it comes to your writing, you have to make it non-negotiable. It has to become your lifeblood.Your new morning routine. Your evening prayer.Even if, for just fifteen minutes, you write what you believe is unpublishable — still do it.A writer who writes trash is still a writer. A writer who doesn’t write at all is a dreamer.This may sound weird but some writers become apathetic to not writing at all. They have the ability to explain away why they don’t have time or why other things are important.Remember, true writers and practitioners, can’t not write.It’s difficult to pry them from their laptops. They don’t need to be told to write, they need to be told to stop.Get in the habit of becoming the kind of writer that hurts from not writing.And how do you do that?Deliberate practice, every day, without fail. Even when you’re “not feeling it.”Writing is your new breath. You have no choice.<h2 id="a2a5">2. Setting boundaries gets you paid</h2>If you want to become a paid writer, you need to invest your time into some apps that will keep you from being distracted.The one thing I’ve learned about my mind since starting my side hustle in freelancing is that I do not trust it.I’m easily distracted by the Internet. Therefore, I track my

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time when I’m working on a project.To keep track of what I’m working on, I use <a href="https://asana.com/">Asana</a>.Asana is a great project management tool that helps organize my writing projects from start to finish. This will easily tell me if I’ve been working on a draft for too long or if I’m not prioritizing something that needs to be finished.<a href="https://toggl.com/">Toggl</a> is also another great tool I use for managing writing projects. It keeps me accountable for the amount of time I’m spending on any given task.This week, I’ve started tracking non-writing time too. Just to know what I’m spending most of my time on.Many times, we’ll tell ourselves that we’ve been working but reality doesn’t reflect this. With Toggl, if you’re honest with yourself, you can see if you’ve been writing or watching YouTube videos most of the day.Trust me, you don’t want to know how long you’ve been distracted.Also, another bonus is the Screen Time feature on the iPhone. This has been an absolute game-changer for my productivity as I don’t want to be on my phone the majority of the day.Check your stats every now and again, without getting obsessive.<h2 id="f092">Final Thoughts</h2>As a writer in the information age, it can sometimes be difficult to remember that we’re actually in control of our attention. Despite all of the noise around us, our focus needs to be sharper than ever — if we want to be skillful and well-paid writers.It’s time you take control and start using this era to your advantage. You hold the power, it’s your responsibility to never forget that. Don’t miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime.Now, write with reckless abandon.</article></body>

Two Things to Remember When The Internet is Distracting You From Writing

2. Boundaries Get You Paid

This world is noisy — distractions abound.

Even the most focused person can fall prey to giving attention to things that don’t align with their purpose.

And with marketing messages invading our eyes, more than ever, getting a single task finished is an enormous undertaking.

But with this new age distraction comes something beautiful.

You can literally unlock your smartphone and start a legit business in 30 minutes or less.

I don’t know your Internet habits. But if you’re like most people, you’re criminally distracted. And you likely want to get better with managing your time.

You see, this time in our lives — while it’s the most lucrative it’s ever been — is a double-edged sword.

It’s as if our mobile devices are a non-stop conveyor belt of stimulation.

And if you’re a writer, the mediums (no pun intended) of expression are plentiful. But also, if you’re a writer who actually wants to write — like for real — the mediums of distraction are also plentiful.

You will have to fight Twitter and Instagram and Facebook and YouTube just to get to the blank page.

Imagine that.

Remember when the blank page and the clicking cursor was the big fat thing to overcome?

Now, you’re lucky if you can even get to it before devouring political threads and memes.

Your brain isn’t safe if you’re not intentional about guarding your writing time.

So it’s imperative that when you’re spiraling into a funk of unproductivity, you remember these two things.

1. If you don’t write now, it will hurt later

When it comes to your writing, you have to make it non-negotiable. It has to become your lifeblood.

Your new morning routine. Your evening prayer.

Even if, for just fifteen minutes, you write what you believe is unpublishable — still do it.

A writer who writes trash is still a writer. A writer who doesn’t write at all is a dreamer.

This may sound weird but some writers become apathetic to not writing at all. They have the ability to explain away why they don’t have time or why other things are important.

Remember, true writers and practitioners, can’t not write.

It’s difficult to pry them from their laptops. They don’t need to be told to write, they need to be told to stop.

Get in the habit of becoming the kind of writer that hurts from not writing.

And how do you do that?

Deliberate practice, every day, without fail. Even when you’re “not feeling it.”

Writing is your new breath. You have no choice.

2. Setting boundaries gets you paid

If you want to become a paid writer, you need to invest your time into some apps that will keep you from being distracted.

The one thing I’ve learned about my mind since starting my side hustle in freelancing is that I do not trust it.

I’m easily distracted by the Internet. Therefore, I track my time when I’m working on a project.

To keep track of what I’m working on, I use Asana.

Asana is a great project management tool that helps organize my writing projects from start to finish. This will easily tell me if I’ve been working on a draft for too long or if I’m not prioritizing something that needs to be finished.

Toggl is also another great tool I use for managing writing projects. It keeps me accountable for the amount of time I’m spending on any given task.

This week, I’ve started tracking non-writing time too. Just to know what I’m spending most of my time on.

Many times, we’ll tell ourselves that we’ve been working but reality doesn’t reflect this. With Toggl, if you’re honest with yourself, you can see if you’ve been writing or watching YouTube videos most of the day.

Trust me, you don’t want to know how long you’ve been distracted.

Also, another bonus is the Screen Time feature on the iPhone. This has been an absolute game-changer for my productivity as I don’t want to be on my phone the majority of the day.

Check your stats every now and again, without getting obsessive.

Final Thoughts

As a writer in the information age, it can sometimes be difficult to remember that we’re actually in control of our attention. Despite all of the noise around us, our focus needs to be sharper than ever — if we want to be skillful and well-paid writers.

It’s time you take control and start using this era to your advantage. You hold the power, it’s your responsibility to never forget that. Don’t miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime.

Now, write with reckless abandon.