Between classes, work, internships and school clubs, even finding enough time to eat and sleep can be difficult. But writing? That’s next to impossible. Here are five ideas for finding the time to squeeze in writing for fun.
1. Wake up an hour early
Ok, hear me out. Waking up before the rest of the world can be a magical thing. The sun is still rising, there’s no one to bother you and if you’re a commuter like me, all the best parking spots are still empty! Waking up an extra hour before class or work to squeeze some writing in is ideal for those who lead busy lives and don’t want or can’t afford to take time out of their day. However, I don’t recommend this option if you are not at least somewhat of a morning person already. Pushing yourself to get less hours of sleep and making yourself miserable won’t get you anywhere.
2. While watching Netflix
Writing while catching up on your shows is a good option for all those multitaskers out there who really don’t want to take out any extra time in their day. However, I don’t recommend doing this while watching movies or shows that require a lot of paying attention in order to keep up. I find that nature shows and cheesy soap operas are great for this though.
3. Between classes
This is probably the most obvious option. Everyone has that one day where they don’t quite have enough time between two classes to get all their homework done, but too much time to wait on your phone. Might as well get in a few words!
4. Late at night on weekends
Again, for most of us this isn’t exactly the most ideal time to spend locked away in your room cranking away at that story that’s been bothering you for a while. But for the nights you don’t feel much like going out, there’s a certain creative energy that can only be found in the dead of night when everyone else is also awake.
5. Breaks
Another more obvious one, but I always like to block off my breaks from school for big edits and revisions. Why not switch it around? Get your major writing projects done during the summer or over J-term, and spend your free time in the school year doing edits.
Everyone finds their creativity and motivation somewhere different. For some of you, it might be during a time not mentioned above. But if you’re having difficulty coming up with time to write, try out one or all of the options above! Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new lifelong daily habit.