5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Write
Can’t seem to muster up the drive and determination to begin writing? Even the most seasoned authors will experience a lack of motivation from time to time. If this sounds like a familiar scenario, you should try the following techniques to overcome procrastination and start writing.
You don’t have to finish an entire book — or even a chapter — in one sitting. On the contrary, setting smaller, more achievable goals can help motivate you to write. This can be something as simple as coming up with a title for your book, researching a particular topic, or just structuring a writing plan. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment after achieving these otherwise small goals, motivating you to continue writing.
In addition to setting small goals, you should also reward yourself for achieving those goals. It doesn’t have to be an extravagant or expensive reward, but rather make it something simple like an evening out with friends or family. This work-for-reward principle will motivate your on a subconscious level to continue writing.
As a writer, you probably spend a significant portion of your day sitting. Unfortunately, though, sitting for long periods of time has been shown to negatively impact productivity. People feel more relaxed when they sit, which can lead to fatigue and a general lack of motivation. So if you’re looking for a source of motivation, try standing and moving around more often. Some elementary schools have even added standing desks for students, which has had a positive impact on their ability to learn, according to teachers. You can follow a similar approach by adding a standing desk to your office from which to write.
Friends, family and coworkers are all excellent sources of motivation. Before you start a new writing project, let people know what you are trying to accomplish. By spreading the word about your work, you’ll receive motivation from friends, family, coworkers and whomever else you share this information with. They’ll ask you about the work, providing helpful advice and encouragement along the way.
Sometimes all it takes to motivate yourself is to pick up the pen (or turn on the computer) and start writing. Far too many authors spend countless hours planning each and every detail of their work. But instead of actually writing, they invest all of their time and resources into planning. There’s nothing wrong with creating a plan/strategy, but you must act on those plans in order to succeed.
So the next time you are looking to write a new paper or book, don’t think about it — just do it. Even if you don’t end up immediately using what you’ve written, you’re still getting your creativity flowing and you never know, it may take you down a new path you hadn’t previously considered.
How do you motivate yourself to write? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments section below!
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