Let’s be honest- it’s hard to be a consistent writer.

We all know we can’t rely on motivation to write because then… well, most of us would be waiting forever.

And where there’s a lack of motivation, there’s usually a lack of consistency. A vicious cycle we’re all victims of as writers.

But you know what else we’re victims of?

Not only are we fighting for consistency each and every day, but we’re also fighting a weird phenomenon akin to having an angel and devil sitting on your shoulders, telling you conflicting advice.

On one hand, you know you want to write because you love doing it, it’s a way to calm your mind and find peace, and you love building and interacting with the community on Medium.

On the other hand…you can’t bear to spend one more second staring at a Word Doc, editing with Grammarly or tip tap tappin’ away on your keyboard.

Whether you subconsciously still try to rely on motivation to come your way to write or you just don’t really want to write right now (even though you need to) this article is for you.

Here are three unique tips to try when nothing else seems to be working and you simply just don’t want to write.

#1 Lose the Concept of Time

When I sit down to write (like right now), I put all indications of time around me into stealth mode.

This means that the clock on my desktop is blocked by a Post-It Note. I take my Apple Watch off so I don’t accidentally flash the time. I even go so far as to cover the clocks on my oven and microwave and turn my Google Home Hub around so it’s not facing me.

I’m serious, I actually do this!

Oftentimes when we write, we’re trying to maximize our time because it’s something we do in our leisure time, so we have to be really smart about when we write, how much we write and edit, and how long it’s taking us.

Losing the concept of time while I write allows me to write for however long I can, not shaming myself if it’s only 15 minutes and not getting anxious if I’ve spent over an hour on one draft.

It allows me to connect with the process of writing and editing without being concerned about time, which I often am.

Disassociating from time allows me to fully immerse myself in the experience and process of writing.

#2 Small Writing Sessions with Five-minute Tasks

I mainly write in the evenings and during the weekends. But during these timeframes, I can’t just write the whole time. There are other things I need to do, such as work out, do chores, run errands, etc.

Especially on the weekends when I have large chunks of time to write but have other things to do, I set a 30-minute timer for writing and complete a small task at the end of each writing session.

This allows me to know that a) I have to focus my mind really hard for 30 minutes on writing b) I can get a break from writing by doing a small chore in between c) I can accomplish all my trivial tasks while still making time to write.

The tasks I do in between each 30-minute writing session are only allowed to take 5–10 minutes. This makes sure I get adequate time to remove myself from writing, but not remove myself so far as to get out of my groove.

Examples of tasks I do in between my writing sessions are unloading the dishwasher, folding laundry, creating my grocery shopping list, etc.

Taking these 5–10 minute breaks means I’m less likely to get burnt out, and I’m able to average about 10–12 of these writing sessions per weekend day, which means I write 5–6 hours.

I’ve realized that I often feel anxious when I write because of all the other things I need to get done. Doing these 30-minute writing sessions with task-oriented breaks has been a game changer for me. It doesn’t disrupt my flow, and it allows me to write while getting everything else done that I need to.

That’s a win-win in my book.

#3 Have a Physical Notepad When Writing

When I write, I have a physical notepad next to me where I jot down the random thoughts and tasks that inevitably pop into my mind when I’m writing.

You know, the ‘Oh, I need to text Jenny back about plans tonight’ or ‘I need to remove my toenail polish’ or ‘I can’t forget to put my car insurance into my car’.

These random thoughts are inevitable, and instead of trying to prevent or stop them, I let them happen.

By having a notebook to write them down in, I’m able to get them out of my mind, but still have peace of mind knowing that I won’t forget to do them.

A free and clear mind equals better writing.

Stop trying to remember everything you need to do while writing. It only hinders your finished product.

Real Talk

Everybody’s writing process looks different.

Don’t feel ashamed if you can’t get into a three-hour flow state at 5 o’clock in the morning. This doesn’t automatically exclude you from being a successful writer.

Also, know that your writing process will change and evolve more frequently than you think.

Just a few months ago, I woke up at 5 a.m. to write every day. Now I write in the evenings. And I’m sure a few months down the line I’ll be doing something completely different.

Our lives change and evolve way more frequently than we think they do. So be open to different writing processes and strategies. And allow yourself to change things up to better accommodate where you are in life right this moment.

But the bottom line to all of this is you have to write.

Sorry, not sorry.

So stop reading this article and go do so. Like right now…bye!