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Know Your Writing Rhythms (and Maximize Your Writing Time!)

There are a lot of “how to write” coaches, experts, and gurus out there that tell everybody to just get up an hour earlier and write first thing in the morning.

To start the day writing – and to work in some yoga, a green smoothie, and meditation.

Let me ask you this (and answer honestly)

Does that even WORK for you?!

For me, my brain doesn’t kick in that way for the first two hours I’m awake. It doesn’t matter if I’m up at 5:30 am or 8:00 am. I’ve got two hours before I can do ANY type of work. I can use that time for housework and cleaning – so I often do!

Now with Small Thing in the mix, the first two hours of the day are consumed with nursing him, feeding myself, and then feeding him (solid foods!) – then getting him down for a nap and myself dressed. And guess what – that’s about two hours so I’m ready to work!

Pre-Small Thing, I wasn’t a night person but could catch a second (creative) wind about 8:30. I could work until about 10:30 until I’m just brain dead and have to get some sleep. Now that I’m a mom, I’m in bed an hour after the kiddo goes down to maximize the hours between bedtime and the first nighttime feed.

And guess what, my favorite time to write, when I’m most productive, is between 2 to 5 in the afternoon. I’ve always loved that window and try to maximize it in any way I can.

When I was working full-time and writing on the side, I didn’t have the mornings (or afternoons!) to work regardless of my energy level or creativity. And even though I COULD work in the evenings, too many long nights back to back would wear me out. I created a schedule of writing for several hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Tuesday and Fridays are date nights so the writing was 15 minutes or so.

Let me ask you:

What works for you?

Then try to write during your optimum window!

This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, by the way! Because when you put too much importance, faith, and TRUTH on the “I can only write first thing in the morning” line you’re feeding yourself, then you miss out on perfectly good writing opportunities as they happen. OR you decide that if you missed your window, the day is ruined. (Tell me I’m not the only one who does that!)

Now that I’m a mom, I’m an expert at being highly efficient in smaller cracks of time – no matter what time they come. If that’s working for an hour before he gets up – I can do it. Before, I’d struggle.

If you’re looking for more consistency in your writing – and support to make it happen – then check out the 17-Day Writing Challenge, happening now. The purpose of the Challenge is to help you cultivate a writing habit AND to make massive progress on your book (using a proven method that allows you to be successful no matter how busy you are!)

And it’s free. Sign up here: 17DayWritingChallenge.com

Kim Galloway
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