Routines and Schedules

One of the most helpful and boring things that I have found keeps me writing is my schedules and routines. Last year threw a lot of that off for a variety of reasons. I started a new job in January and that meant a whole new routine to deal with as well as a new commute and a lot of learning.

Then well... March happened and everything changed again.

This is why my focus for 2021 is on rebuilding routine and structure into my life as much as I can. When some things are automatic, it frees up brain space. We've all had those days where you get home from a long day at work where you had to make a million decisions. You flop onto the couch, can't decide what to make for dinner so you order a pizza and watch movies. Suddenly it's 10:00 and time for bed. Your willpower is depleted and trying to force yourself to do more, doesn't really work at that point. You've exhausted that energy.

For my Dungeons and Dragons fans out there, it's like spell slots. You have enough energy to cast a certain number of spells before you need a rest. Schedules and routines act a bit like cantrips: they don't take a spell slot to cast.

One thing I have built into the routines of my life is that Monday is laundry day. It's become basically automatic at this point. I know that anything that needs to be washed will be dealt with on a Monday so I don't have to allot any amount of worry to 'when am I going to get all these clothes washed?' It frees a tiny amount of brain space from that thought. There's no decision to be made, it's already been made by past me.

By building in these little decisions already being decided, you can free a lot of brain space. Set up a similar breakfast every day, wear a 'work uniform' even if you don't have to, have a set time for eating or going to bed or writing. When these routines become automatic, those things get done with less resistance and less willpower drain.

Consider that schedules are really just a gift that past you is giving to future you, isn't that thoughtful of them?

Willpower. It's one of the biggest things we rely on to make changes. Want to start a diet? It's going to take some willpower. Want to get up at 5am to write every day? Going to take willpower. And the struggle is that willpower is limited. We don't have an unlimited reserve and unlike mana in a fantasy roleplaying game, it can't be recovered by just drinking a potion.
So what can you do to keep making these changes that take a lot of willpower to do. Well, first of all... don't rely on just willpower.

Look, we usually take the path of least resistance when it comes to just about anything. We want to do what's easiest and that doesn't always mesh with what we say we want to do. It's the idea of saying 'I'm not going to drink sodas anymore' and when you get tired in the afternoon getting a coke 'just this once'. You're actively going against what you said you wanted, what's the deal with that brain?

The way around that is to change your environment to change your habits.

I've been working back towards getting up at 5am every morning to write and it sucks. I mean it just does. My bed is soft and cozy and my office isn't. So how can I make that easier for myself. Here's what I've done that helps.

1. Set everything up the night before.

I get my word document open with my plot notes right there before I go to bed. That way when I get to my computer there's no distraction, just exactly what I need to work on waiting for me.

2. Make my office more inviting.

After a roof leak, I kind of hated my office... so... I finally bit the bullet and got all the water stains dealt with. I rearranged the furniture and put an oil diffuser in there and now it's nice and I enjoy being in there. I'm savig up to get a better desk and floor mat but for now, it's great.

3. Alarm across the room.

Having my room across the room helps wake me up. I also have found that standing in place and counting to 5 before allowing myself to get back into bed makes a world of difference. Also it helps to have cats demanding to be fed. They make it hard to go back to sleep.

4. Know what I'm going to write.

It helps immensely to know what I am planning to write and to be excited about. If it's a fight scene I've been itching to write that's a ton more fun than staring at a screen with no idea where to go with the story.

5. Music.

I love making playlists for my books. I have one for most of my works and some that are just general moods: western, fighting, sad, romantic, etc. Having those playlists ready to roll really helps get me ready to start writing as soon as I sit down.

Those are things that have helped me get a little better at being part of the 5am writing club. It also has helped me pay attention to making all kinds of other things easier. I am better at working out because I've stopped hiding my workout clothes and instead keep them upfront and center in my office.

So help yourself win by giving yourself a boost. Look at your environments and ask 'what would make it easier to do ______?' then do that! Give yourself a break and work on making things easy as you can.