May 28, 2013

Theories of Productivity for Writers

There are so many suggestions for practices and products to make you more productive, just searching for them can become a procrastination artform. By attempting many, many different organisational or productivity ideas, there is a basic truth I've learned: Everyone has their own natural rhythm in life, and as such, different methods work for each of us. 

For example, I find most productive techniques work well for me... for a very limited time. While it's new and shiny, my brain is in awe enough to follow instructions. But once I get used to the routine, my brain gets time to manufacture sneaky ways to lure me away from my good intentions. 

Here's a few theories of productivity and suggested methodologies. Try a few and choose what works for you.

30 days to become a habit.
Now, I've seen suggestions that it takes 21 days to form a habit, and my meditation tape recommends listening for 24 days in a row to achieve the 'habit' of creative meditation. I figured I'd play it safe and suggest 30 days. Habits formed can be active or resistant, i.e. you can 'do' something for 30 days, or you can abstain from something for 30 days. This trick worked well for my kids last year when I banned fast food. It's now been 17 months since their last trip to MacDonalds. The first few weeks were hard, but it did indeed become a habit. The ban is lifted, but my kids tastes have changed (they're 11 and 15) and now they don't want to eat that food. This month we've taken the step of banning Coke-a-Cola. I'll let you know how that goes!

So what are the rules? Basically, you must complete 30 consecutive days to form the habit. If your habit is to write a page a day, and you miss 1 day, your 30 days start again. Be clear with your goal and it's a good idea not to try and achieve too many at once. I'd start with just one for your first month. Want a free 30 day calendar? Andrew Dubber created one for his blog. You can download it by clicking on the image (or visit http://andrewdubber.com/2013/03/resurrecting-the-30-day-calendar/)

Challenges
There are always plenty of blog challenges to join, whether you want to write one short story a month and submit that story (write one, sub one), get 50,000 words in one month (Nanowrimo), or read an instructional text on the craft of writing each month (The Progressive Book Club), you'll find a blog challenge to meet your goals.

This method employs the tactic of accountability. If you announce your intentions to enough people, you'll feel obligated to see this through. Beware, there is a conflicting theory that if you announce your goals to people, and get patted on the back for your intentions, your brain can get tricked into believing it has already made an achievement and you'll be less likely to see the project through.

Triangle theory
A friend told me about this theory, and I embraced it because it's a very forgiving theory. Through our lives we pick up various responsibilities and projects. We'd probably be amazed at the number of things we've attempted. But at any one time, our life can only support three main focuses. We might change those three from time to time, but only three will fit comfortably within the pyramid that represents our life (pyramids are very popular with theorists).

Last year my pyramid consisted of Family, Writing and Fitness. This year I took up tutoring for work, so that has replaced Fitness. I've found this to be an honest approach. As much as I wanted to keep up my runs and workouts, I really don't. I can for a short time swap an item to get fitness back in, but I have to be honest and admit that something else would have to go. You might swap your focus daily, depending on your weekly schedule. And although there can be three things we can be productive in at any one times, only one will sit at the top of the pyramid.

Lists
Us writers love these, but they can actually increase your procrastination if you don't use them right. Many experts suggest the way our brain is wired means if we put more than five items on our to-do list, we are less likely to complete any tasks, but if you stick to five or less (3 key things you want to achieve today, is a good start), then you're more likely to achieve them all! Less is more. I do cheat a little here. I write a master list, with about 50 to do items, and each day I take the three main things I want to achieve from that.

Time chunks
Regular breaks are an important ingredient for any productive workplace. For health reasons you should look away from your monitor and off into the distance every 15- 20 minutes (http://www.spreeder.com/blog/avoiding-eye-strain/), you should also stand and stretch your shoulders and back regularly. Besides tired eyes and sore muscles, our brain gets bored stuck on one thing too long. By breaking tasks down into 20 minute segments, you'll be much more productive. Take a short break between tasks or switch to a different task. Keep your mind interested to work more productively.

Another time-related trick for productivity is to schedule your distractions. Set time-limits for social media, otherwise your triangle of productivity becomes more like this:

Want more? Here's some popular posts on productivity:

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Simply download Dognapped? A Dog Show Detective Mystery or blog about the book to enter!
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35 comments:

  1. What a helpful post! I have three main focuses and tend to bury myself in never-ending lists, so I can particularly relate to what you said about triangle theory and misusing lists. I'll have to apply some of the tips you provided here and see if that helps improve my organization.

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    1. Good luck with the organisation Erin - let us know if you come up with any great productivity tips :)

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  2. Great tips. Apparently I can only focus on one thing at a time--or so my hubby tells me ;)
    Good luck with quitting cola! I did that a couple of years ago. It was so difficult to start with. I thought I needed that sugar and caffeine hit, lol.

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    1. I'm a one task at a time person too Lynda! There is now research available that reveals this multi-tasking quality is myth and when we multi-task we are less productive. I might have a list of to-dos, but while I work on one item, all the others are pushed out of my consciousness.

      You are pretty productive with your blog and writing, so I think your method works for you!

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  3. My daily to do list is enormous, but each item is very small. For example each page of story entry has it's own list number! I really like crossing them off. I think that, for me at least, productivity is a case of tricking my brain.

    And my brain seems to be easily tricked. Which is great.

    Thanks for this interesting post, there are certainly some ideas that I haven't come across.

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    1. Crossing items off the list is the best part! I have bulleted tasks, but under each of those projects are breakdowns of the individual steps, so I get to cross off a lot too :)

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  4. Love these tips, Charmaine! I like the 30-day challenge one. Might try that!

    Congrats on your new book!

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    1. Thanks Jill, good luck trying out a 30 day challenge!

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  5. Great suggestions. I like the triangle theory and will have to think of that for my life. I actually have a schedule written out on an index card and try to stick with it. Even though I'm not in an office, writing is my work (and joy!).

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    1. Julie, I like the triangle theory too, it's kind of comforting. We get so much pressure (even when it's unintentional) from the people who belong in the different areas of our lives, our writers group think we should make our writing time our priority, our kids' schools assume we are up to speed on all forms and excursion notices, other parents talk about their great healthy menus, friends think we should bake/shop/coffee more, our parents think mopping the floors and folding clothes is our priority, gyms remind us to do 30 mins exercise a day... Okay, I've exhausted myself and started to rant. Point is, knowing we can only really focus on three, with one priority, excuses us from guilt for not keeping up with the others.

      An index card is a good idea though, because you can carry it around with you. I might try that! I don't have an 'office' either, but when I really need to spend a day focusing on writing and not laundry, I head down to the local library and set myself up there.

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  6. Excellent article! My daughter and I used the 30 day habit changer to change our eating habits. I lost 30 pounds so far and we don't drink soda anymore (it was getting out of hand). Now I need to do it for my writing. I've gotten out of the habit of writing every day. Thanks for the push!

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    1. We moved up from a small country town, were our main past-times in winter were baking and eating baked goods, so when we moved back to the city and saw all the morning runners and bike-riders looking so fit, we decided to give it a go. I'm loving this 30 day challenge because it's only one thing at a time, so it feel achievable - well done on your success!

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    1. Thanks Diane, I figured turning 'dog washing' into 'researching reasons not to wash dog' for the list would make it more achievable :)

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  8. I love the idea of the 30 day challenge.

    I have a to-do list. If I don't finish it, items roll over to the next day and the next. Even if I'm behind on my writing, I'll make it up somehow, either on a weekend or holiday, crossing the chapters off my list.

    I don't know if I can live without Diet Coke.

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    1. You're super productive anyway Medeia, I could never get through half the work and books you do!

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  9. Love this 30 day challenge. Thank you for sharing it at our writing group today. Now I've vowed to work on my novel edits every day, even if I only get 5 minutes. Better than nothing. So many demands...so little time.

    Luckily I've never bothered drinking Coke. Give me a good gin and tonic anyday, lol! Or a naish cuppa will do the trick.

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    1. Yes, I have no plans to give up my cuppas anytime soon!

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  10. Hello, Charmaine! *waves wildly* How's it going? Interesting stuff! I particularly love the Bermuda Triangle map. Very cute!
    No Coke a Cola? What if I only use it for mixing...? *glances around for kids* Oops! Sorry, kids. Never mind. ;)
    I hope things are good on your side of the world, my friend. Take care.

    -Jimmy

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  11. Hi Jimmy!!!

    If you're mixing with Coke then you ain't drinking the good stuff ;)

    Things are good on this side, although we do spend a lot of time upside down. Look forward to your big book splash!

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  12. Practice makes perfect, and repetition is very habit forming. Joining challenges and keeping lists also work very well. Nice post, Charmaine, with lots of valuable info here:)

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  13. I try different approaches but I usually end up falling back on good old lists.

    mood

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  14. Love the tips Charmaine! I need to try some!

    Nas

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  15. Wow, so much great advice! 30 days definitely seems like the right amount of time to form a habit. Also, completely agree about lists. I don't know what I'd do without my planner to help accomplish all my goals! The triangle theory is new to me, but it makes heaps of sense and I can't wait to start applying it to my own life now that I know about it!

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  16. I like your idea of sticking with it for 30 days to make it become a habit. In January 2012, I set up a group where we check in (mostly) each day to state our writing progress. It helped keep me accountable. If we don't write, we donate to charity. So, it's win-win. At that time, I also decided that I had to at least write during lunch each day. So every weekday, I write for 30 minutes. Sometimes it's all I get to write. But it adds up.

    What a great giveaway!

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  17. Lol at the Bermuda Triangle! It's so true, although I would replace Facebook with blogging. My triangle consists of writing, family and housework. The last one is a necessary evil but at least it affords thinking time. As a side note I think it's awesome you weaned your kids off Maccy D's. More parents should go that route!

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  18. Dang, girl, you sure are taking this writing stuff seriously! lol Just don't forget to live, have some fun, and enjoy life a little. You'll never die and look back and say, "I wish I'd worked harder." :-)

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  19. Great suggestions! I am (strangely) drawn to the number 3 so the Triangle Theory and limiting To-Do lists to 3 items appeals to me. Actually, so does the 30-day calendar since all you have to do is put a 0 after the 3 :) I often fall into the Bermuda Triangle (which is now more like a hex-angle (?) since I've added Google+, Tumblr, and RedRoom). While I primarily write on my Wordpress blog and from there I can send my posts to my other accounts, I still have to manage independent activity on those accounts and, it's a bit overwhelming at times. Do you or any of your followers have suggestions for managing multiple social media accounts? Is there an app for that? Thanks! Marie

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  20. Social media can be a real time killer. So can Fantasy Baseball Leagues. I have to severely limit them whil I write.

    And good luck with Dognapped!

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  21. Good advice! The 30 days tip is one of my favorites.

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  22. Fantastic advice! I love the idea of giving something 30 days to form a habit and starting over if you miss a day.

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  23. Greetings Charmaine

    Most interesting, indeed. Although, for instance, when it comes to writing, a formula such as the one you propose, would not work for me. I write and Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar, write whenever we please, without pressure or any undue expectation.

    As for blog challenges, or bloghops, or bloghops, or whatever, personally, I'd rather be whipped with a wet noodle :)

    "Dognapped?" looks a most intriguing um 'pawblishing'. Thanks for your advice.

    Penny's human,

    Gary

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  24. Love this theory! And what amazing changes you've made in your family---and love how it can be applied to writing. So inspiring!

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  25. Hi Charmaine .. interesting read - thanks for highlighting the various points - and love that you've essentially removed fast food from your lives, and good luck with the coca-cola month .. very good for your (the kids') teeth and health ..

    The only thing that occurred to me here .. was where you mention to swamp one thing for another .. if your family life couldn't include the exercise too - so that's not lost .. because in fact that's probably as essential if not more so than the others ... without your health - all would be lost ..

    Good to meet you and thanks for stopping by - Hilary

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