Since last week I talked about Habitica and how it has helped me reinvigorate my to-do list and become more productive, I thought I’d go a bit further and talk about things I have learned being a full-time writer.
Back in April 2010 I quit my full-time librarian job which I loved, and took the leap into writing as my career. My first New York published book Geist was coming in October, and I decided it was time to ‘back myself’. It was terrifying and invigorating.
That first day I didn’t have to rush to work, I slept in. However once I got up and realized this was it, I’m not going to lie, it was weird and very unformed.
When you are in an office there is someone telling you want needs to be done, reminding you if you are slacking off, and there is a rhythm to life in an office. It took me a little while to work out that I was now responsible for all of those things.
So here are some of the things I have learned in that time.
- Pants – Put them on. Certainly, it might seem like a good idea to sit in your PJs all day, and sure you can do that on the odd occasion, but putting on your pants/trousers every day, and getting ready to face the day gets you in the work mood. Without it you might just watch TV and eat ice cream. Remember this is your job, you need to take it seriously. Pants are required.
- Schedule – To take the place of the boss, you need to become the boss. Police yourself. Give yourself a weekly schedule and deadlines, just like you had at work. Try not to remember that if you don’t hit them there is no senior manager to yell at you. Without some sort of structure you are going to fall off the rails hard, and then the only person to blame…well unfortunately that is you. Are you sensing a theme here?
- Distractions – Sure that floor needs to be mopped, there’s dust on the mantel, and the bathroom needs a scrub. Facebook is tempting you with memes, hilarious cat videos, and your friends latest crisis/adventure/success. Admit these distractions are going to be there and learn to manage them. Sure you need to keep your house clean, but limit it. I do a chore a day, just half an hour or so, and it is scheduled, so that my vacuuming the floor doesn’t turn into an all day scrubfest…
- Eat and Move – seems simple doesn’t it. But sometimes while you are in the depths of writing, or creating a cover you might forget to move your butt out of the seat. On my Habitica I have a habit, called Move After Writing. After a thousand words, I get up and circle the house a few times. Luckily only the cats are there to see me do it. It gets the blood flowing (remember your brain needs blood!) and it also is just good for your health.
- Eat properly. One of the advantages of working from home is that you can do that. You have access to a kitchen, use it and keep that brain supplied with food as well as blood.
- Have a space for writing – make a spot for you to write undisturbed. At first I thought I could write anywhere, on the couch in front of the TV, by the kitchen counter, balancing on one foot. You get the idea. Turns out I need a flat surface and music in my ears to get words out. Editing I can do anywhere, but for writing I either sit at the dining room table with my headphones on, or down in our office, with a cat sprawled next to me. Find the location(s) that work best for you and get in the habit of using it. It also acts as a trigger, to remind you to get working.
- Get outside – after awhile the house is not going to be enough. So get out of it now and then. Go for a walk. Join a nearby writers group, or start one up. It doesn’t have to be everyday, but once a week it is nice to see a human during sunlight hours. Don’t forget when you are creating things, you can learn from humans. You write about them after all.Oh and here is a bonus tip, that I am still working on. Have a weekend – OK, sure maybe not every weekend. Like most small business owners a weekend might seem a luxury, but like going outside, a weekend is a refresher. Spending time with the family, going further afield is the reason we work right? Even if we love what we do. This year I realized I had been working most weekends, sometimes all weekend. So I adjusted my schedule (see above) so I get more word count in during the weekdays, and have some mental and physical downtime Saturday and Sunday
Those are the things I have learned since 2010, but if you have any more tips and advice for those working from home, please post them in the comments.