TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. Planning & Time Management for Effective Writing
Planning and time management are critical for effective writing. It is essential to understand how to maximise your time. For instance, setting reminders on a tool like Google Calendar for all yur writing tasks, including emails, reports, contracts, articles, social media posts, or even short messages, can help ensure you meet your deadlines.
Always outline your writing before you begin. Organise your thoughts on paper, then use your outline as a roadmap to formulate logical, coherent sentences that convey your message. Your preparation should include making a note of key points, arranging them logically, and planning any research you need to do.
Set realistic time limits for yourself and stick to them! If you find that you require more time, give yourself an additional specific number of minutes and set a timer. The goal isn't to complete your writing as quickly as possible, but to produce high-quality work without wasting time.
Minimising distractions is another crucial step: turn off your phone and email notifications. Establish thirty-minute intervals every two or three hours to check your phone and email if necessary. Actively preventing yourself from constantly checking your notifications will significantly enhance your focus.
Routine is key: it's crucial to establish a routine that accommodates the demands of your job and lifestyle. Don't be distracted by the latest trends in routines and productivity. Adopt a method only if it aligns with your specific situation. A well-defined routine helps prevent procrastination, reduces stress levels, and boosts your productivity and consistency in writing tasks.
WORKSHEET: Planning and Time Management Worksheet for Effective Writing
Remember, the goal is not to write as quickly as possible, but to write high-quality work without wasting time. Use this worksheet to help you develop a routine and strategies that work best for you.
Part I: Understanding Your Current Writing Routine
Describe your current writing routine: When and where do you usually write? How often do you write?
Outline your distractions: List the distractions you commonly encounter while writing.
Evaluate your time management: How often do you meet your writing deadlines? If not always, describe the reasons why you miss your deadlines.
Part II: Planning and Outlining
Practice outlining: Choose a topic (e.g., an email update to your team, a project report, a social media post) and create a brief outline that organises your main points in a logical order.
Research planning: For the topic you chose above, what information would you need to research? How would you go about collecting this information?
Part III: Time Management Strategies
Scheduling: How could you incorporate the use of tools like Google Calendar into your writing routine? Create a sample schedule for a week, including reminders for writing tasks.
Time limits: Set a realistic time limit for a writing task. Write for that period, then reflect on your experience.
Did you meet your goal? If not, why?
Part IV: Minimising Distractions
Addressing distractions: Given the distractions you listed in question 2, what steps can you take to minimize these when you're writing?
Checking policy: Propose a policy for checking your phone and email during your writing time. Remember, the idea is to enhance focus.
Part V: Establishing a Routine
Ideal routine: Describe your ideal writing routine. How does it accommodate the demands of your job and lifestyle?
Routine trial: Try your ideal routine for a week and document your experiences. What worked well, and what didn't?
Reflecting on trends: Are there any popular productivity trends that you've been tempted to try? Reflect on whether these truly align with your specific situation and needs.
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