Why do you write like you’re running out of time?
3 Tips to write over 1000 words a day
Listen, I warned you that Hamilton will influence my personality for the foreseeable future. I usually listen to “non stop” during times when I have a lot of written tasks to do and this season is one of those times. Between uni work and this blog, my fingers haven’t had a break since December. Fortunately, I have discovered a few tricks to manage heavy writing loads to be able to write like I’m running out of time (Hamilton reference).
Voice dictation
This has been a game changer for me. I actually did this in second year a while ago but completely forgot about it until last week. I don’t know if you’re like me, but sometimes my hand cramps up while writing. It used to be really bad during A-Levels because everything was handwritten and all my subjects were essay-based.
I have the mental capacity to write for hours on end, but physically, I have to take shortcuts sometimes and this is a great way for me to do so while still getting the work done. Especially for first drafts, I just talk it out onto the page, then go over it and make any edits I need. I could be lying down on my bed all comfy and still get my assignments done, the best of both worlds.
30 minute increments
I am a Pomodoro ambassador at this point. I can’t stress how important it is to take a break before you need a break. Stop before you get tired, because I’m telling you, once you’re tired, it’s really hard to push past the need to stop completely. It’s better to take five minute mini breaks every 30 minutes than to work for 12 hours straight and then need two full days off because you’re physically, mentally, and emotionally burnt out. Make a schedule of what you're going to do in each 30-minute increment, but also plan what you’ll do during your breaks. Maybe a quick workout to wake yourself up, a chat with family to disconnect, or some breathing exercises, whatever works for you.
If you have multiple tasks to do, try working on them all in the same day so you don’t get bored of one. For example, I might spend an hour doing two sets of typing for my blog, then do two hours on a uni article, and finally one hour working on an essay. That way, I’ve started all of them and kept my mind active.
Switch environments
You don’t realise how much this helps you subconsciously. There are days when I get groggy and bored of being on my laptop, because let’s be honest, staring at a Word Doc all day isn’t exactly the best view. So, I might start my work on my bed, then move to the dining table after a couple of hours, then head to my sister’s room, and finally back to my own. If I’m at uni, I might go from the classroom to the common area, then the library and the canteen. That way, I don’t feel chained to my laptop, and I remind myself that life is still going on around me.
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