Initiating a regular writing practice can seem intimidating
Writing is a potent tool with transformative potential, but how does one establish a consistent writing routine?
It offers an avenue for expressing feelings and thoughts, articulating your ideas, and propelling personal and professional development.
However, the trick to unlocking these benefits doesn’t lie in writing per se, but in making it an everyday routine.
Persistent and regular writing can sharpen your cognitive abilities, boost your creativity, and provide a deep sense of achievement.
While initiating a regular writing practice might seem daunting, it needn’t be. Here are some tactics that have proven successful for me.
Start small: Disregard the idea of writing a thousand words or filling a journal page. You don’t need to produce an entire blog article, chapter, or diary entry in one sitting. Concentrate on penning just a few words. This small start often leads to a more natural flow of words.
Advocate simplicity: Close all unnecessary tabs and applications. Focus solely on your writing instrument. Avoid the temptation to find the perfect text editor, and use whatever you’re comfortable with or the simplest one available.
Reduce distractions: Disable all notifications on your desktop and mobile device. Do this proactively, like scheduling it on your calendar the day before your planned writing session. With Apple devices, a blocked calendar event triggers an automatic silence of all alerts. The objective is to decrease potential distractions before they interrupt your writing flow.
Strategize: Consider what you want to write about beforehand. Deciding even the first few words can be invaluable when it’s time to begin writing. This planning phase is crucial for overcoming initial inertia.
Embrace resistance: Fear of outcome often makes us reluctant to start. Identify these sources of resistance and let them go. Remember, your immediate aim isn’t to write an immediate masterpiece, but simply to start writing. Any other concerns can be addressed later.
Recall your purpose: You write because it offers benefits such as enhanced thinking and career prospects. When you’re writing, visualize yourself enjoying these benefits in the future. This mental picture can serve as a compelling incentive to get the words flowing.
Begin: The most critical step is to start. You don’t have to write for a full 5–10 minutes. Just begin. Once you’ve taken that initial step, you’ll probably want to continue, but without any pressure.
Establish a schedule: Set a regular writing timetable. It could be first thing in the morning or late at night. What matters most is consistency, as it’s crucial for habit formation.
Designate a writing zone: Reserve a specific area for writing. This designated space can cue your brain that it’s writing time, helping you focus quicker.
Practice patience: Finally, be patient. Building a habit requires time. There will be days when words don’t flow as smoothly, and that’s perfectly fine. The essential thing is to persist.
As is commonly attributed to Chinese sage Lao Tzu:
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
This rings true for us as well. But in our case, the journey starts with penning a single word.
Therefore, start writing.
