If you are like me, you end the day wondering why you didn’t get as much writing done as you’d intended. There isn’t one right or wrong answer to how our daily energy should be spent. We all need to prepare food, take care of ourselves, our kids or fur babies, and keep things somewhat clean. The online world entices us to spend time and energy there, whether checking email or browsing the Internet.

Building an author career is a juggling act. It takes practice and iteration to strike a balance between writing, reading, and community. It takes even more dedication and flexibility to build a writing career in between family responsibilities, day jobs, or volunteering. No one lives in a vacuum where the entire day is spent writing.

When your energy is scattered among several tasks, it is difficult to do one task with full strength. In my Breath Qigong Yoga class, I teach several techniques to gather scattered energy back to your core. With focused energy, you can work toward your true purpose.

Think of energy as water moving through a garden hose. When water moves through the hose and out a power washer nozzle, the water is focused, concentrated. There is a lot of power in the way the water moves. When water moves through the hose and out a fan spray nozzle, the water is scattered, not as strong. The power is dispersed in many directions. 

Both are ways to move water through a hose. Concentrating the water flow in one direction, though, is more powerful.

It feels like there aren’t enough hours to get everything done. But I’ve realized it isn’t the quantity of hours. It is the way I’m spending my hours. 

There are distinct peaks and valleys to my energy levels during the day. With an awareness of how I’m spending energy, I can make adjustments to create a sustainable writing routine in balance with other demands on my energy.

Introducing… the Marble Jar Experiment

Instead of tracking time, I track how I’m spending my energy. One marble represents a unit of energy. One jar represents a category of how you spend your energy. 

You can track how you are spending your energy with this marble jar experiment in 7 simple steps:

1. Write down 5-10 categories of ways you spend your time.

Everyone will have a different answer. For my categories I have:

• Checking Email and Text Messages
• Online Time (social media/websites/author community platforms)
• Writing/Creative Work
• Reading
• Wellness (going for a walk/Tai Chi/stretching)
• Daily Tasks (cooking/cleaning)

2. Label a glass or jar with each category.

3. Get a number of identical objects such as marbles.

4. Every time you spend energy on one of the categories, put a marble in the jar. 

Be honest!

5. At the end of the day, tally up how many marbles are in each jar.

I’m a visual person, so seeing a quantity helps me along with the tally. Remember, you’re not tracking time. You are tracking how many times you spend energy on this category.

6. Repeat for as many days as it takes to see a pattern (but not so many that it takes away from your writing project).

7. Analyze the results.

Write down ways you can tweak your daily routine to balance the energy spent in each category.

The results are in…

After three days, I tallied up my results. I was not surprised to see that 20 marbles were in the email jar, the most of any category. I’m so overwhelmed whenever I check email that I actually freeze up. And most of it isn’t even messages personally addressed to me that I need to answer.

I have two easy solutions. Part one is to unsubscribe from emails that have information I can get another way on my own time. This digital clutter drains both my creative energy and fossil fuel energy. I recently wrote about digital spring cleaning in my newsletter. It is a good first step in reclaiming creative energy.

Part two is to set specific times for checking email instead of every hour. I have a colleague who only responds to phone calls and text messages while he is out in the field. He answers emails when he is back at the office at 4:00. His clients know their emails will get answered at that time.

The next fullest jar was daily tasks. Cooking or getting something to eat takes a chunk of energy. My plan is to start batch cooking on the weekends. This way I can reheat a dish during the week instead of spending energy each day figuring out what to eat, which often results in choices that aren’t beneficial to my body or brain.

The wellness jar had only 3 marbles and the reading jar had only 1 lonely marble. These important parts of my wellbeing often get crammed in at the end of the day or neglected altogether. Cutting back on email frees up time for reading a book. Batching tasks such as prepping vegetables one day a week frees up time for afternoon walks. I am confident just a few changes will move the marbles into the right jars for a balanced day.

Are you ready to make significant healthy changes to your writing life? Taking a few minutes for a few days to do this easy experiment will give you clarity on what is out of balance in your energy account. You will be surprised at the results!

Tell us in the comments: Have you tried the marble jar experiment? How did it go?

Ambre Dawn Leffler is a Tai Chi instructor, gardener, and weather geek who writes about vegetables, seasons, communing with nature, and the interconnections of mind/body. She loves trees and cherishes time in their presence. Learn more about her tree time, garden residents, and wellness practices at her website ambredawnleffler.com and seasonal inspiration from her newsletter Sky Earth Water. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post The Marble Jar Experiment: Balance Your Energy Account appeared first on DIY MFA.

I’m one of those “write every day” writers. I believe that inspiration comes if I give it time and space to enter. I used to think that I could only call myself a Writer if I logged a certain number of hours every week, waking up early every day to make it happen. I prioritized time over energy.

But I recently realized that I’ve been ignoring something incredibly obvious and also incredibly important: putting a lot of time into writing doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m producing my best work.

So I reevaluated. I asked myself how I felt during each of my writing sessions in a week. Was I fully focused on the work, or did my mind start to wander? Did I get into a state of creative flow, or was I watching the clock? I noticed that my midweek morning sessions tended to be the most difficult. The obvious explanation was that I was tired. By midweek, I’d gone through at least two full days of teaching, plus the daily morning and evening chores and routines with my young children. I started to wonder if I might need a midweek break.

Internally, I rebelled against the very idea of a break. If writing was important to me, I should be doing it every single day, I told myself. My schedule was already so tight. How could I sacrifice even twenty minutes a week? It would just push my novel deadline further and my word count would sink.

But that midweek writing session continued to be my lowest earner. What would happen if I (gasp) slept in that morning instead of writing? According to Chris Bailey, author of The Productivity Project, it would be more productive for me to prioritize my energy over the total amount of hours I wrote in the week.

“If you want to become more productive, managing your time should take a backseat to how you manage your energy and attention.” — Chris Bailey, The Productivity Project

Bailey’s book convinced me to give a break a try, and it turned out to be an experiment that taught me a vital lesson about my writing process. But before I get to that story, I want to share with you the full extent of the debate going on in my head over time vs. energy, in hopes that it will prompt a similar examination of your own productivity.

Viewpoint #1: Time Is More Important Than Energy

Simple math is on the side of time. Time adds up, so the more time you put into something, the more valuable it is. Most important things in life take time, such as building relationships and growing a career. It makes sense that time should be the number one ingredient in writing a story, finding an audience and getting published.

Making time for something automatically flags it as important. We also each have a finite amount of time—there’s no getting around that 24/7, 168 hours a week rule—and that makes it more precious. The way we spend our daily and weekly hours adds up to the way we spend our lives.

Viewpoint #2: Energy Is More Important Than Time

If your brain is tired and you can’t focus, all the time in the world can’t help you create something beautiful. Conversely, if you have plenty of energy, cranking out thousands of words can feel almost effortless. Every writer has experienced both sides of that coin, and we all know which one we like better.

You can’t make more time. You can, however, foster your energy. You can invest in sleep, exercise, and healthy eating. You can meditate, practice mindfulness, and work to develop your focus. Energy makes the time you have more valuable.

The Verdict

After wrestling between these viewpoints, I decided it was worth giving Chris Bailey’s advice a try. The next week, I set my alarm later on Wednesday morning, so that I only had enough time for half of my normal writing routine. I admit, part of me felt disappointed in myself, as though I was being lazy. But when I saw the results, I felt better. Getting a little extra sleep when I needed it most turned out to be the best decision I could make both for myself and for my writing. My writing session that morning, though brief, was fast-paced and exciting. I also felt happier and more focused throughout the rest of the day. The benefits even spilled over to Thursday and Friday; it felt as though I’d given myself a mid-week reboot, which made Thursday and Friday seem more like Monday and Tuesday, typically my most productive days.

I went back to my energy vs. time face-off and came to a conclusion: energy has an edge over time. Time is important, but energy is vital to productivity. There is a tradeoff, however. Focusing on energy does take time. If you’re going to prioritize energy, you’ll have to put time into sleep, exercise, meditation, and seeking out healthier food. Ultimately, I found that all of those time investments were worth it to keep me writing productively and living happily.

DIY MFA readers, where do you land on energy vs. time? Do you think one is more important than the other? Here’s the litmus test: if you were given the choice to sleep in on a low-energy day, but it would mean missing a writing session, would you take it?

Leanne Sowul is a writer and teacher from the Hudson Valley region of New York. She’s the curator of the website Words From The Sowul and authors the “Be Well, Write Well” column for DIY MFA. She writes historical fiction and personal essay, for which she won the Scott Meyer Award in 2017; her work is represented by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary Agency. Connect with her at leannesowul(at)gmail(dot)com, at Facebook.com/sowulwords, or on Twitter @sowulwords.

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The truth is, for most writers, being tired and spread too thin is a reality. We have full time jobs, families, second jobs, freelance work, and social engagements. We need time to read and fill the well. We need time to rest, and that makes writing time all the more precious. So what do you do when you’re tired, but need to write? Here’s a few tips to power through:

1) Take Stock

Every few years, I re-read Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It’s a fantastic book for writers. His first habit is “Begin With the End in Mind.” There is a power in knowing where you are going before you start walking somewhere. The same holds true for writing. If you’re tired, motivation is key. Before you begin to write, take a few minutes to figure out what you want to accomplish, not during this particular writing time, but this week, this month, this year. Keeping your bigger goals in mind will help you to accomplish the smaller task before you today.

2) Plan

Following along these lines, write down a specific goal for this writing session. It should be something ambitious, but attainable, and something that allows for your tired state! If you know you’re about to doze off, and it’s too late in the day to gulp coffee, don’t try to write 2,000 words. Success is motivating, and failure isn’t. Set a goal you can attain, but that pushes you enough that you’re proud to attain it. Then get to work. Who knows? You might surprise yourself and get to 2,000 words after all!

3) Eliminate Distractions

It’s been scientifically proven that resisting temptation fatigues us. Every time a blinking notification pops up on your phone or Facebook, and you choose to ignore it, you’re draining yourself a little more. Cut out the option by putting your phone on airplane mode, closing your internet browser or even turning off your Wifi altogether. My computer’s wifi actually quit working, and I decided to forgo fixing it. The internet will always be there, but writing time is precious!

4) Get Out of the House

Have you ever read the picture book “Five Minutes Peace?” It’s about a mom who just wants five minutes of peace and quiet, but her kiddos are going crazy. Whether or not you have kids, life is a storm and a distraction, especially at home. Sometimes, my roommate just comes in my room to talk, which is great, but if I’m in the middle of a writing sprint, I’m likely to lose my train of thought. Homes are also distracting because there is always work to be done at home, whether it’s cleaning or organizing or cooking your next meal. The home is full of temptations to resist, but you can avoid all that by throwing your laptop in a bag and heading to a coffee shop.

5) Create a Creative Environment

Going to a coffee shop can be an ideal way to work, but sometimes you’re just too tired, or you want to write in bed, or there’s only forty five minutes before your family comes home, and wasting fifteen minutes schlepping isn’t worth it. If you’re at home, combat creative fatigue by setting up your space for success. Shut the door. Paste your goal on the wall. Pop in headphones so you can focus on the screen and not what’s going on downstairs. Another thing that can add a little ambiance is lighting a candle or diffusing essential oils. It’s amazing how these little things can help you relax, focus and get excited about getting to work.

6) Change it Up

Do you ever get home from work and think “If I have to look at another screen I’m going to die?” Okay, maybe that’s a little over-dramatic, but  we’re writers! We can be dramatic. And we can definitely feel the burn from looking at a screen all day. It’s not just computers. We’re always glancing at our phones, too. Our eyes don’t get a break! Sometimes that keeps me from writing at all. But! There’s hope! We have these wonderful appendages called hands, and this lovely invention called a pencil, and we can write with these things as well. This isn’t ideal for NaNoWriMo writers looking to hit a wordcount, but if it’s a choice between writing by hand and no writing at all, I think the choice is obvious. You can transcribe later. And, also, the act of writing by hand is different than writing on a computer. It forces you to slow down, to really think about each word. It’s a great exercise for drafting.

I’ll also go out on a limb here and recommend writing on a typewriter, too, if you have one. There is nothing quite so motivating as hearing that Ding! that tells you you’ve made it another line.

7) Take a Break

Writers can really run themselves ragged, and I think it’s important to remember that sometimes, you really do just need a break, even if you don’t make your word-count goal, or hit the deadline today. A few ideas for writerly breaks:

• Exercise: What? Yes. It seems a bit counter-intuitive, but exercise is so key for long-term health. It will make you more energized, sleep better, and is a great time to let the ideas flow. I really am not a huge fan of the gym, but I find my mind is clearer and my work more focused if I take a half hour out in the morning to go for a run. Another great idea is to buddy up! Some of my best writing talks have been on long walks with writing friends.
• Read: Because we’re writers and we need to! Because it’s fun! And motivating!
• Meditate: Quieting your mind and finding stillness in the midst of a busy day or season can keep you sane. Even if you only have a few moments, check out a guided meditation. There are tons of free apps and guides online.
• Surf the Web: This can be a great way to give your brain a break without leaving the computer desk, but the key is to set a timer and stick to it. Maybe say you’ll get to browse for fifteen minutes, but when those minutes are up, shut it down, and get back to work!

8) Sleep

This one seems a bit obvious, but it’s so tempting to stay up late. Whether it’s to pound out words or just goof around. When I’m done writing, I sometimes stay up late doing important things like, uh, checking Instagram and scrolling through Netflix. The truth is our bodies crash without sleep, and even if we can get more done today, we’ll be useless tomorrow. Getting in a solid eight hours will do wonders for your writing time. We also need time for our brains to unwind after writing time. So set a promise to stop an hour before you go to bed, and take that time to really relax. Read a book, have a glass of tea, tidy up your space so you’re ready and refreshed to get back at it in the morning!

9) Find Other Writers

I love C.S. Lewis’ quote on friendship. “Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” I think it is especially true for writers. Having someone you can talk to who understands the craziness that is the writing life can keep you sane. Also, having someone you can write alongside will help keep you motivated and on track, even if you’re dog tired. I’m a big fan of holing up in a coffee shop with a few writing friends, and doing regular check ins to see how everyone’s progress is going. If you don’t have writers in your area, this might be a good reason to forgo cutting off the WiFi, and hopping on Twitter instead. See if anyone is doing writing sprints! You’ll probably be able to find writers at pretty much any time, and the camaraderie is so energizing.

10) Hydrate

We’re writers. Most of us probably consumer large amounts of coffee or tea during the day (and maybe wine at night, too). It can be easy to forget to drink water. A lot of us are dehydrated without even knowing it! Drinking plenty of water will help keep your brain awake and your mind more focused. Water does get kind of boring though, so I like to change it up by cutting up fruit and throwing it in. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel–I certainly was!

What helps you power through tired writing days? Let us know in the comments, or on Twitter, using the hashtag #DIYMFA. Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing!

Bess Cozby writes epic stories in expansive worlds from her tiny apartment in New York City. By day, she’s an Editor at Tor Books, and Web Editor for DIY MFA. Her work is represented by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency. Tweet her at @besscozby, contact her at bess@diymfa.com, or visit her website at www.besscozby.com.

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