Budgeting Time

This week is a bit of a crazy week at CSW. I have a couple of tight deadlines, so I have to be careful how I budget my time to make sure I get everything done on time (or early, even). Over the years, beginning even in high school, I've learned a few tricks to help keep me on track with deadlines, and am always aware of what projects I have.

I write everything down. A lot of times I'm able to remember what's going on and what I have to do each day, but I'm always afraid that I might not remember.

• I have a day planner I use to write down all my deadlines and appointments as soon as I get them. And when I complete a project or go to an appointment I cross it off on my calendar so I know I did it.
• At the beginning of each week, I create a task list of projects and things to do that week (with deadlines written in to remind me of priorities). I add to it as I need to, and as each task gets completed, I cross it off the list. I always write this list on a piece of yellow paper from a legal pad so it doesn't get hidden among the other (white) papers on my desk and in my portfolio.
  
• At the beginning of each day, I look at my weekly task list and create a to-do list for the day from the projects and things I have to do during the week. That way I don't feel overwhelmed by looking at my weekly list. I'm able to break things down day by day to make sure I get everything done.
  
• I also keep a stack of notepaper on my desk. Whenever I have a piece of paper that's clean on the back that would normally be recycled or thrown away, I cut it into quarters and add to the notepaper stack. These papers are bigger than post-it notes, so I don't lose track of them as easily, and I'm able to take notes on them without wasting paper.

I have a file organizer by my desk for active files. When I have an active project, I stand that file up in my file organizer by my desk for easy access to the file and notes within it. That way I don't have to go to my file box when I need information about a project or client. Everything is right there next to me.

I budget breaks into my schedule. If I work too long without a break, my eyes get tired and I get a headache. Sometimes I'll get frustrated with what I'm working on, too, unless I can step away from it for a bit. So I usually take a mini-break every hour or so, even if it's just a five- or ten-minute break to refresh my drink and stretch my back. (If you're having trouble taking breaks, there are free, download-able programs that will automatically remind you when it's time to take a break. I used one until I got in the habit of taking regular breaks. Here's an example of one.)

These are just a few of the things I do to help me manage my time wisely. Others have different methods. A colleague/client of mine, for example, lays out all of her projects in an Excel document to track what needs to be done, when things are due, and what files she needs for the projects. Another friend of mine just keeps a daily to do list on a half-sheet of paper.

What do you do to help keep your time budgeted?

5 Tips to a Better Coffee House Experience

1. Try something new. You never know what you might like, and if you don't try something, you'll never get to experience it. Usually get a mocha latte? Try the house blend. An iced coffee person? Order an iced chai tea.

2. Ask for a recommendation. Many baristas drink so much coffee that they're able to find interesting drinks and combinations that are very good, and if you ask for a recommendation, you may find something not so ordinary that becomes a new favorite.

3. Attend an event. Many coffee houses have open mic nights, author speaking engagements, mini-lectures, and other things available for customers to attend. At my local coffee house recently, for example, there was a french press lesson. Not only do you get to meet new people and learn new ideas, but it's just another opportunity to drink coffee! Yum!

4. Visit a new coffee house. Sometimes all it takes to appreciate a great coffee is to get a fresh perspective on your favorite drink by ordering it somewhere else. Each coffee house is a little different (even if the recipes are the same), so when you order your drink somewhere else, you get a slightly different drink, and it helps you discern what you like as a coffee drinker.

5. Sit at the coffee house to drink your coffee. There is atmosphere in coffee houses, and sometimes it's relaxing and refreshing to just sit and take it in for a while. Listen to the music, smell the coffee brewing, watch the people coming in and out, or the people hanging out in the atmosphere themselves. Maybe it's the writer in me that loves to sit and people-watch, but I think coffee houses are great places to spend time!

Tips for Motivation

As any writer knows, there are times when you sit in front of your computer (or typewriter or notebook) and just...stare. And as badly as you want to write or be productive, nothing happens. You're just not motivated to write. Unfortunately, it can just be a part of the writing life.


I'm finding that since I have much more time to write these days, my motivation wanes more quickly than it did when my writing time was more limited. So I've had to develop tricks to keep myself productive so I don't sit around all afternoon and watch I Love the 80s reruns on VH1.


Editing sometimes gives me the break I need from writing while still maintaining productivity. And many times the process of editing gives me ideas of how to continue the writing or where to take a plot, character, or setting once I've finished editing. and when I'm editing, I don't feel like I'm wasting valuable working time!


As much as I value the time I have to write, sometimes when I'm unmotivated, I just have to do something else for a while. Sometimes the best thing I can do is walk away from what I'm working on, give myself some space from it, then come back to it with a refreshed mind and a new perspective. Even teachers suggest students should take a ten minute break for every hour of studying, so why would writing be any different?


Though it may be cliche for a writer, it can be helpful to take a walk when feeling unmotivated. This goes along with doing something else for a while. It gives you the opportunity to step away from what you're writing to clear your head a bit, then come back to it with renewed energy and motivation.


You should be careful about these next two tips. Each of them can be helpful, but they can also suck you into a black hole of procrastination and feeding into lack of motivation. If you're feeling unmotivated, try calling a friend or catching up on email. As I've said before, writing can be a lonely life, and by reaching out to other humans on a semi-regular basis, you may find that you find stores of creativity and the motivation to keep working. And the added benefit of communication with friends is the possibility of picking up great dialogue for stories!

You'll find your own methods to boost your motivation, and while I encourage you to use them, just remember that every artist, no matter the medium, needs a little bit of down time. A little time away from writing doesn't hurt!

Happy scribbling!