May has proven to be a busy month. So much so, that I’ve decided to shake up my writing schedule a bit and try something new. I’ve never been much good at writing (or doing anything that requires focus, really) when there is a cap on my time, like knowing I need to be somewhere else in only a couple of hours, so I’ve let that principle guide my time management, scheduling writing days or half-days each week to allow myself more freedom to think and get lost in thought and using my handful of free hours on work days to get other things done or just kick back. And while I still have writing days, I’m finding myself less satisfied with the amount of writing getting done (my editing brain is getting in the way of my writing brain lately), so I’m changing things up to see if that helps me get into a better flow faster.

I’m starting with one additional morning, with an hour carved out to write and an alarm set to keep me from being late to work, and I’ve written out guidelines for my full writing days to hold me accountable (including a little time set aside at the end of the afternoon for things I tend to distract myself with like chores) and to keep me moving from one section to another, or to switch from writing one part to editing a different section, every few hours so I’m less likely (hopefully) to get stuck and lose momentum. If, after a few weeks, this seems to be helping, I’ll firm up the guidelines for my writing days so it truly does become a new writing routine, and probably add additional mornings on my work days.

Has anybody else made changes to their writing routines that helped? What habits worked? What habits didn’t quite take root? Share your experiences in the comments!