Running a business is an incredibly time-consuming task. Planning, operation, product development, sales, delivery, email, bookkeeping, social media, marketing. it takes time. When you have a family, you don’t have time to reheat the tea you brewed three hours ago, and you jump from demand to crisis.
Your blog posts, important but non-urgent tasks often fall victim to go-go-go life. I know it’s important, but day in and day out it sinks to the bottom of my “to do” list.
“I have to write that blog post.”
“I really need to write a blog post.”
“I’m going to write a blog post today.”
“I’ll write that blog post tomorrow…”
Sound familiar?
It’s not batch processing…it’s shredded.
I’m in awe of bloggers and business owners who casually comment, “I write blog posts in 15-20 minutes and batch them.” I just sit down and write six or seven in a row. ”
What are you?
Blog posts take hours. Not a few minutes. time. Writing one takes up the creative work. To recover, you need to lie down for 30 minutes, take a walk, or goof off on Facebook. By then the crisis had flared up again. Forget about batch processing.
I’m not too keen on the “stream of consciousness” approach either. It’s great for therapy, but no one wants to read my therapy. Not even me.
Nevertheless, I write regularly and professionally. I was able to do it and got faster with practice. I also learned a tip or five from my profession, psychology.
So here’s what works for writing blog posts faster and why.
1. Make a plan
I would put it off until the day before (or even the day of) the publication date, waiting for inspiration to strike and the words to flow. it doesn’t work. It’s slow and frustrating. To write faster, you need to know what you are going to write. Even better, there should be some bullet points and links to the necessary research.
Why it works: In psychology, task planning is called “execution intention.” It is complex and uses the front part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex. Being intentional about implementation reduces procrastination. Without a plan, when faced with a big, vague task like writing a blog post, your brain will say, “Whoa, that’s too hard.” I wander around looking for a place to focus my attention. Having a plan will make the path to your goals easier and less likely to cause resistance or procrastination.
2. Create your plan as a separate exercise
Planning and writing within one time period overloads your brain. Dividing it into two separate tasks increases efficiency and yields better results. I like brainstorming and making plans while drinking coffee at my favorite cafe. I’ll write it later in the office on my laptop.
Why is it effective?: Cues in our environment trigger our habits. If he continues to look at the same four walls, he will continue to think in the same old way. To break through creative blocks, come up with fresh ideas before writing, combine them, and work in different environments. Large spaces with lots of natural light and fresh air are perfect for encouraging new thoughts and ideas.
3. Write for 15 minutes a day
ProBlogger contributor Kelly Exeter told me about this. Once she has a plan, she sits down at her laptop, notes the time, puts away distractions, and writes for 15 minutes. It doesn’t matter what you write. In fact, if you’re stuck, Kelly recommends just keep writing, “I don’t know what to write here,” until you get an idea. Try it, it will work. Additionally, once you start and find your flow, you may just keep going until you’re done.
Why it works: Getting started is often the hardest part of any task, especially one that feels difficult. The good news is that once you start, you’re likely to keep going until the job is done. This is called the Zeigarnik effect. The brain doesn’t like to start and stop a task. Unfinished tasks remain forever, and you feel anxious until they are completed. Once you start, you’ll get the motivation you need to keep going.
4. Set a deadline
The joy of being a boss is having the flexibility to meet deadlines. Don’t feel like writing today? Do something else instead. There is much work to be done. Except that’s how important but non-urgent blog posts get left adrift.
Sitting down to think and write is hard work for the brain. Prioritizing that task last is rewarded and frees you from tedious tasks. However, that is a short-term gain. No blog articles have been written yet.
I set a deadline for every blog post to trick my brain into finishing it. The shorter the deadline, the more focused you will be.
Why it works: Motivation is psychologically complex, but it’s true that stress levels increase as deadlines approach. When stress levels increase, our brains and bodies are primed for action. We start work and work hard to complete the task. This is known as the Yerkes-Dodson law. Is there no deadline? I don’t have enough stress to move my body. If you’re a conscientious person like me, you’ll be fine with a deadline you set yourself. If not, find a way to have someone else set deadlines for you.
5. Focus on the end result
Holiday fun is often the best part, right? Imagine yourself lying by the pool with a cocktail in hand and no responsibilities. It motivates you to pack up and get out.
This also works when writing blog articles. Generating ideas and writing may seem difficult, but you don’t have to focus on that part. Pay attention to the rewards. For me, that means hitting the publish button or sending my finished work to an editor. Even better is positive feedback.
Think about where your motivation comes from. What’s the reward for writing that blog post? Where’s the thrill? Focus there to get it done.
Why it works: There are two types of goals. Avoidance goals are things you want to avoid, such as losing readers because you haven’t written a blog post in over a month. Next, there are approach goals. These are goals that push us forward. A vision of pool and cocktails is the goal of the approach. The goal of your approach is to feel satisfied when you press the publish button. If you think about it correctly, anything can be an approach goal. Don’t focus on what you’re avoiding. Focus on the good things that will happen after the task is completed.
Ellen Jackson of Potential Psychology is a psychologist who does things differently. She writes about people and why we do the things we do. She coaches, teaches, and helps workplaces help people do their jobs better.