How to Stay Productive During the Holiday Season

I admit it. Shopping, baking, wrapping gifts, and sending holiday cards, along with everything else I have to do, makes me want to hide in bed until after the new year. But, I need this little thing called money that keeps the roof over our heads, so I keep writing.  

Here’s my advice. Don't let the holidays derail your writing progress. Adjust your expectations and stay focused on your goals.   

Adjust Expectations 

Many of us have this Currier and Ives picture perfect holiday in our minds, and we kill ourselves trying to achieve it.  

Stop a minute and think back to the holidays of your childhood. Did it bother you if Mom burnt the cookies or if the house next door had more lights hanging from it than yours did? Probably not. 

Here are a few ways you can simplify your holidays: 

• Focus your energy where it belongs: on family and friends. Instead of rushing around to make everything perfect, be okay with good enough.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your family will be more than happy to lend a hand if they know it means spending more time with you.
• Trim back your holiday card list or consider sending postcards. I used to mail out over one hundred cards a year with handwritten notes inside. Then it happened: the year I just couldn’t do it. So, I pulled the previous year’s cards and only mailed cards to people who had sent us one that year. Postcards are a cheaper alternative when you want to send a quick note to someone you don’t see very often.
• Many online retailers offer free shipping during the holidays, so you can shop from home while taking a break from your writing. You save gas, don’t have to deal with crowds, and can easily get back to your writing schedule. Shopping local can also help. Commit to shopping at small businesses for one day out of the holiday season.

 Focus on Your Writing Goals 

It’s easy to lose track of your writing goals while preparing for the holidays. Now, more than ever, it’s important to write out a to-do list each week. Time block your calendar so that writing time stays part of your routine. 

Be realistic and plan ahead, knowing you have more on your plate this time of year. By November, I don’t take on additional writing assignments or book reviews. This leaves me wiggle room for those added holiday chores and more time to spend with those I care about. 

Preparing for the holidays doesn’t mean you can’t find the time to write. Adjusting expectations and focusing on writing goals can simplify your life and help you write, even during busy times.

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and award-winning editor. She is the author of four children’s books including, A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing. A blogger and book reviewer, she is a member of SCBWI and lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three adult children. Visit Cheryl's website at https://ccmalandrinos.com or her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com

Tips to Increase NaNoWriMo Productivity

 

Photo from Freepik

NaNoWriMo kicks off in 21 days. Can you believe it! Are you ready? 

We've already discussed how to add a large writing project like NaNoWriMo into your jam-packed schedule. Now, it's time to plan ahead, consider how to eliminate distractions and time wasters, and make sure you get enough rest.  

Plan ahead 

Planning ahead is vital to creating a realistic writing schedule. Some ways you can plan ahead before tackling NaNoWriMo are:

• Spend a few hours preparing menus for each week of November, including your holiday menu (if it applies).
• If you’ll be entertaining, ask friends and family if they would be willing to bring a food dish.
• Shop in bulk to cut back on errands to pick up food, household items, and office supplies.
• Consider ordering holiday cards and envelopes pre-printed.
• Time block your calendar, adding NaNoWriMo writing time into your most productive timeframe.

Eliminate distractions and time wasters 

Distractions and time wasters can threaten any project, no matter the size. It is especially important when approaching NaNoWriMo to eliminate activities that steal time from your writing. Here are some tips to help:

• Set aside a specific time during the day to return phone messages and emails. Discipline yourself not to check email or surf the Internet when you should be writing. 
• Share your time-blocked calendar with family members before you start NaNoWriMo, so they will know when you're writing.
• Find a private place where you feel most productive and inspired to write.
• Hang a "writing in progress" or "writer at work" sign on your door or put a tent card on your desk, asking family ahead of time not to interrupt you unless it's an emergency.
• If you have young children who require care, have books, crafts, or other items to entertain them during writing time.

Rest up

One thing that will help with stress- and time-management during NaNoWriMo is getting enough rest. Burning the candles at both ends helps no one, and certainly not your writing. Get the required amount of sleep each night so that you’ll have a well-rested mind to tackle writing and anything unexpected that comes your way. Add bedtime to your calendar. 

Don't wait until the last minute to prepare for NaNoWriMo. Plan ahead, think of ways to eliminate what can pull you away from writing, and schedule bedtime into your calendar so you get enough rest leading up to and while you are participating in NaNoWriMo. 

Good luck to all who will participate in 2024!

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and award-winning editor. She is the author of four children’s books including, A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing. A blogger and book reviewer, she is a member of SCBWI and lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three adult children. Visit Cheryl's website at https://ccmalandrinos.com or her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com