Lisa Hood

As it turns out, writing five articles a day is more difficult than I thought.  I’ve been off work all week, hanging out at home w/ K as she recuperates from surgery and I still haven’t written five articles a day. How am I going to manage it when I’m back to work and have less time?  I’m not giving up; I’ve just got to find my groove.   This week has gone by so fast, and I haven’t gotten anything accomplished, aside from rest and relaxation.  I always feel guilty after taking it easy.  It seems like there is always so much to do and so little time, but really whether or not I clean the kitchen or mop the floors doesn’t matter in the long run.  I have to believe that my writing will matter in the long run. No matter if anyone reads what I write, it is the way I make sense of my world. 

Taking action is non negotiable. Knowing what, when and how to take action can yield huge rewards.

What - The Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule) states that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of actions.  It’s critical to know what actions produce those results.  Watching movies, reading books, napping (all of which are my favorite activities) don’t yield results.   I don’t count them as a total loss though, because I will write movie or book reviews.  Even so, reviews are not the focus of my writing, so even though I take the time to write them, they don’t yield much value.  My writing time is better spent writing articles, short stories or books. While I dream of writing and publishing novels I don’t spend a great deal of time writing fiction because my income comes from articles.  This is where it gets a bit tricky, focusing on long term goals rather than short term. 

When - Knowing when your mind is sharp and you’re at your peak performance.  For me, I work best mid morning and early afternoon.  Too early in the morning and I just imagine crawling back between the covers. Too late in the evening and my mind shifts to neutral while I idle in front of the TV.  Working during my peak hours produces more quality and quantity.  I schedule my day to ensure I optimize my performance, with routine tasks (checking email, paying bills, preparing queries) done in the morning, writing through lunch and then personal tasks (chores, errands, dying my grey hairs) done in the evening.   Without a plan for your day you can burn hours before doing any actual work.

How - I turn off the TV, radio and phone.  I ask my kids to give me some space and remove as many distractions as possible.  At home I maintain a consistent, productive environment.  The habit of getting a cup of coffee, sitting at my desk and booting up my computer puts me into work mode. Each step is a switch, turning on my creativity and productivity.  I work in bursts, allowing 30 minutes for each task, whether I complete it or not.  Limiting the time spent on each task keeps me engaged and energized.  My self imposed limits create tension, which inspires me to take action; quickly and efficiently.

No amount of planning can replace action.   Even on days when I don’t feel inspired I try to write.  Most days I’m able to get into the groove and accomplish something.  Not everything; never everything, but something.

 Tips to be More Productive - And Write More!