We all feel like we don’t have enough time. But most of us waste a lot more time each week than we care to admit. The perfect timewaster is enjoyable, allows time to fly by, and is highly distracting.
In this day and age, we have a lot of distractions that fit the bill of a perfect distraction. Timewasters are habits that provide little to no meaningful reward for the time invested.
If you don’t have time to finish your book, I suggest you look for these things in your daily routine and cut them out. Remember you have to “Make” time for writing. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time to write, or you’ll never finish that book!
Avoid these timewasters, and you’ll add more hours to your day to do what matters to you:
- Cut The Clutter: Clutter is a huge timewaster. Everything seems to be in your way. It’s hard to find the things you need. It’s emotionally stressful, too. Have you ever noticed how peaceful a sparsely decorated room feels? You can create that same environment.
- Worrying: You can worry all you want about the weather, your debt, or your relationship. It doesn’t change the problem. It just stresses you out, wastes valuable time, and causes you to be less productive.
- Perfectionism: Perfection is an impossible goal and requires far more time than it’s worth. It’s also an excuse never to get started. Realize what it is and cut it out.
- Electronic devices: How much time do you spend each week watching TV, surfing the internet, or staring at your phone? Do you play video games? Count up all of that time and ask yourself if there’s something more productive you could be doing. The average American spends 4 & 1/2 hrs watching TV a day, and that number is bumped up to 6 hrs if you include online videos.
- Social media: In theory, social media is a great thing. But in practice, it takes up a lot of time and creates stress. People spend an average of 2 hrs & 23 min on social media a day. That’s 35 days a year!
- Multi-tasking: It’s far more effective to do one thing at a time. Refocusing your attention on multiple tasks takes time and destroys any momentum you’ve created.
- Commuting: A 30-minute drive to work adds up. That’s 250 hours a year, or the equivalent of over six 40-hour workweeks. That’s six weeks of vacation! What could you learn if you listened to seminars on your commute? How much writing could you get done if you dictated your thoughts to your phone while you commuted to work?
- Chores: Some things have to be done—shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, cooking, and mowing the grass. If possible, pay others to perform these tasks for you. Or, you can listen to seminars while you mop floors like I do. The last two books I’ve written, I’ve dictated them all while doing other things!!
- Indecision: If you lack a clear direction, you’re likely to do nothing. Learn to make up your mind quickly. Make the best decision you can and get busy putting it into action. Watch my video about finding your “Why”: https://youtu.be/79et_K-01bM
- No plan for the day: Having a plan for the following day before you go to bed is a great way to avoid wasting time. Make a plan at night, and then spend the day working on your plan. Jim Rohn suggests making a list of the top 6 things you need to do the night before and then working on your list the next day. This list will keep you on track and improve your focus.
- Fatigue: It’s hard to do your best work while tired. You work slower, make more mistakes, and have a decreased ability to focus and make wise decisions. Get your sleep!
Consider all the meaningful things you could accomplish if you stopped wasting time. Think about how much time you spend each week on unproductive activities. Eliminate as many of these timewasters as possible and reap the benefits!
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