I’ve been writing for most of my professional life, but I have my days where I feel just a little off, and not the lean, mean writing machine that I love being. Sometimes, I’m just hovering over a blank Word Document, or circling the same paragraph over and over again.
So, what’s the solution? Get ChatGPT or any AI tool to churn out content? Sure, if you want a bunch of robotic-sounding text full of clichés that don’t actually mean anything. But you’re probably not.
From time to time, I look for ideas everywhere, both within myself, and from people who have had the same experiences – whether it’s friends, family, fellow writers, Redditors, or MasterClass instructors. I do have my own rules and preferences, of course, but it’s always good to learn from others!
Today’s a Sunday – a really slow, hot and humid one that to some, may make working and thinking nearly impossible. Ugh, #SingaporeWeather. And a perfect day to try out some productivity tips. So, I asked Google, Reddit and ChatGPT for some tips, and picked my favourite few to try out how they work RIGHT NOW.
Here’s what I tried, or should I say – am trying, because I’m putting the tips to test in real time. Just a disclaimer: I don’t have problems with productivity when there are deadlines to clients. But with some things that are more of an “own time, own target” thing (like this blog), I do struggle a bit. 😆
1. Write intensively for short blocks of time.
This is exactly what I’m doing now. Right now, I am very, very tempted to do random things such as going to the kitchen to get some snacks, perhaps walking by the mirror to scrutinise my eyebrows, then swinging by my weighing machine to see if my new exercise regime’s been doing for my weight – and well, you get the point. But this tip-giver’s advice is to commit myself to writing for 30 minutes. Sure, I can do that. Starting now.
How did it work for me?
Oh, I love it. Ten minutes in, I’m feeling like I’m in the groove already, and the urge to walk away to do something else fades very noticeably. A few more minutes in, I felt like it would be such a waste to lose this “groove”, and I also have started to enjoy myself quite a bit. So yeah. No moving away. If you’re not a fan of timekeeping, came across another tip that may work for you better – give yourself a word count target of say, 200 and start from there.
Also, here’s a Reddit comment that I relate too very well: Usually, once you’ve passed the uncomfortable ‘naah I don’t feel like it right now’ stage, it becomes fun again.
2. Don’t obsess over the quality of your first draft.
I got this one from another Reddit comment: Just to put the bones there, so I can put the meat on them later when I’m in the mood,
– says the Redditor.
How did it work for me?
Well, this tip is rather related to the previous one (Editor’s note: later, I’ll realise that they are ALL linked and they’re probably the best formula for me – for now). Not worrying about how the draft looked like saved me a lot of time and self-doubt. There are generally occasions where I find myself mulling over the same sentence (tough luck if it’s one of the opening lines), and getting stuck, which leads to the “maybe I have something else to do” phase and consequently, more unproductive delays. But this time, my ideas and words started flowing more freely and my writing took off on its own.
3. Just start.
Easier said than done, I know. But I’ve realised that the biggest challenge is never the task itself, but the act of starting. At the (admittedly painful) ten-minute mark, I really do feel like I was in the groove and had no urge to walk away to “do something else”).
And now that I’m almost done with the article – it doesn’t seem as daunting anymore. I mean, I’ve always known this – but once I actually get the superhuman strength to sit down and place my fingers on my keyboard, things get way easier. I also feel much better, because I feel like my burden is lighter, and I don’t feel that looming thing in my mind like “you still have something to do”. At this point, it’s been almost 30 minutes and I’m almost done with my first draft. There’s still quite a lot of self-editing to do, of course, but most of the burden has been lifted, and I’m so relieved.
How did it work for me?
When I started to write this article, I thought I would end up needing at least five solutions to get through this article. But all it took was three. And as I mentioned, they’re all of similar nature and linked somehow. It was a good reminder that sometimes, what we need isn’t more tricks, just the willingness to take the first small step.
Closing thoughts
Out of the many tips and ideas I’ve read, these three were the ones that stood out to me. And they worked. I managed to churn out this article in a relatively short time (I came back to it later to refine it though). And I love the satisfaction of being able to complete something and feeling productive. But I do think that these tips also depend on your mood and situation for the day. While I will definitely be trying these strategies more often (look out for more blog articles!) I also do feel that they are quick fixes – perfect to tide you through times where you really don’t feel it but HAVE to write, but I still have hesitations on whether that will last for the long term.
I hope my experience has been helpful to you. If you have any long-term productivity tips for writing, we would love to hear from you!