Guest Author - Theresa Wilson
Whether working as an ezine newsletter editor or content writer, you will be required to insure timely up-to-date quality writing on a consistent basis. Mastery in this area will require developing and utilizing measures that help avoid time wasters and unnecessary interruptions that can inhibit your success.
Getting a handle on managing your time may require your making lifestyle changes including eliminating the following time wasters:
Telephone Calls – avoid answering the phone during your creative writing time because it interrupts your creative flow and requires too much valuable time to get back into the groove of writing. Let friends and family know your “work time” and your “down times”. Encourage them to avoid calling you unless there is an emergency and help them understand when you don’t answer the phone during those creative writing times.
Emails - This is a distraction area we fail miserably. If you are spending more than 40-45 minutes or more a day (unless you have an e-commerce site) with email communication, you are wasting valuable time. If not cautious, you may find yourself socializing and answering frivolous inquiries that take up some of the most important hours of a day. Decide what you will open and when then stick to the plan. Don’t fall prey to the temptation to open mail from friends and family if it not the time set aside to open and respond. If you decide a.m. is time for business and p.m. for friends and associates then don’t make excuses and succumb to the temptation to read and respond.
Television – Even commercials create distractions and disruptions to a writer’s day. If you have a favorite show, block time to review and enjoy. Other than that, limit your television time daily to one or two shows per day. If you find your productivity is still affected, then reduce it to no more than 1 hour a day. The key here is to find what strategy will enhance your efficiency and writing style. Many people will realize that their best writing comes as a result of quiet time without the unpredictable noise and distraction created by television.
Household Chores – Believe it or not preparing a schedule for household, bill paying and post office related issues saves an enormous amount of time. Decide what days of the week will be used for which activity and stick to the plan. Don’t get distracted or compromise the schedule or you will interrupt your creative flow and will have to spend valuable energy trying to recoup the time.
Planning Your Day – Never start your day without a plan. Never end your day without reviewing what you’ve done and evaluating the progress. If your goal was to complete two or three articles for your ezine, it is important to assess your progress at the end of the day. Begin by writing down what you did for that day from the moment you awoke. If your did not complete your writing goal, take a look at that day’s schedule to see where you wasted time and eliminate those time wasters the next day. Practice this drill for 10-15 days. It will help improve your writing performance. Below are several helpful resources on this topic.
The 25 Best Time Management Tools & Techniques: How to Get More Done Without Driving Yourself Crazy:
The Time Trap: The Classic Book on Time Management:
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