But the nice thing about writing is that it doesn't take much time to write a few words, and thanks to mobile devices, it's possible to write anywhere at anytime.
Here are two of my favorite writing routines:
Write for 10 minutes before or after a meal.
The meal is the anchor. If I do something directly after a meal (or any other regular habit) I'm more likely to do it consistently. And 10 minutes is enough to get something done.
When I was working in retail, I managed to finish The Blue Room Café by writing 20 minutes every morning after breakfast before I went to work. When I say writing, I also mean the work of creating characters, plot, and setting, and editing. It was the only time I had to write. In the evenings I was too tired.
If you want to learn more about successfully creating habits, I recommend checking about my book, Idealist Dreams, How I Learned to Plan as an INFP. Although it is mainly for those of the INFP personality type, I feel that much of the information in it is helpful for anyone who struggles with planning and routine.
Write like you're taking medicine:
This is my current schedule, and I love it. As a result, I write almost an hour everyday without much effort. This idea comes from A Writer's Space by Eric Maisel.
Following this method, I set my writing times to 8AM, 12PM, 4PM, and 8PM. I have a daily alarm set for each time. When the alarm goes off, I write for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the circumstances.
It's amazing how I can easily write at these times on a daily basis, even on days when I work.
Setting up your routine:
How long do you think you can write everyday? Can you write 10 or 15 minutes? Even five minutes is okay. It's better to get a few words on the page than nothing.
Use this simple worksheet to plan a basic schedule anchored to your daily tasks or a timed routine.
Try your schedule for a week and see if it works. If it doesn't, take a step back and ask yourself why it's not working. What's holding you back from writing like you planned? What could make your routine work better? And then, try again.
Have a curious attitude. You're a writing scientist.
Eventually from patient trial and error, you will find a method that works consistently for you.
Do you already have a regular writing schedule? Feel free to share in the comments!