My favorite time to write is late at night.

This schedule doesn’t work in my daily life. But when my husband is out of town, I’ve been known to stay up until 2am writing. I will often spend the day cleaning, running errands, paying bills and doing paperwork. I usually get in a workout and if I’m lucky meet with friends or my mom. Then comes dinner and more picking up and then finally, late at night, I allow time for me, and I start writing. And then I keep writing, and writing. And it’s usually the understanding that I might ruin the next day that finally pulls me from my computer and into bed.

Long term, a 2am bedtime is not the best for my temperament (or my husband’s since he doesn’t sleep well either when I stay up late) So where does that leave me?

Finding a better schedule. Often, schedules are moving targets, with the hectic lives that many of us live. But there is a way to find your rhythm.

Give Yourself Grace

Finding time to write is challenging. This last year for me has been particularly busy and I tend to put everything and everyone ahead of my writing. Partially, because it’s not a paid gig at this moment, and it’s hard work. And perhaps also because other people don’t understand why I do it or if there is any value to it.

Sometimes I wonder why I keep doing it. And then stories swirl around in my head and ask to be told. And ideas for more are constant. Which honestly, creates a bit of a problem when it comes to finishing the writing that I have in the works. The young adult novel that needs editing and the coaching book that needs a few more chapters. But that’s when I breathe and remind myself that it is okay. That things don’t always happen overnight.

Still, there also comes a time when you need to make forward motion. And finding a schedule, a rhythm, helps make that happen.

Accountability Partner

Fortunately for me, my good friend Jenny and I write once a week. Having a partner who has the same goal of putting thoughts on paper, is invaluable. Jenny has supported me in my writing life for years. And for that I am grateful.

Connecting and writing with another person makes writing happen. As long as you set rules. Only allow a certain amount of chatting, or better yet write a quick note to each other about your week when you first meet, read it out loud, and then get to work. You can set goals that you would like to accomplish by your next meeting, or keep it casual and just get together. Whatever works best for you. But finding a partner or a group can motivate you and increase your weekly word count.

Make a Promise to Yourself

If you would like to write or you’ve been writing for years, but lose your way at times, like me. Recommit. If writing is important to you, make a promise to yourself and write that promise down. Make note of it. Remind yourself that you are worth it and what you have to say is worth it. And then fulfill that promise by taking a close look at your schedule.

Start Your Good Habit

Find a time during your day when you can write. If you can do it every day, at the same time, awesome! If you can connect your writing to another thing that you do daily, even better. For example, after I have breakfast and read the news, I’ll write for an hour. This habit stacking, as coined by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits, is a concept that has been around for long time. The idea is that if you connect a new habit that you would like to do on a regular basis, to an already-existing habit, you will have more success on creating the new habit.

My schedule is a bit spiritic, so I have a difficult time doing this. But I’m getting back to my old habit of looking at my week and scheduling in specific writing times throughout. After my walk, I’ll write at 9:30am Monday morning, 2:00pm Wednesday before my afternoon appointment, and then I’ll meet with Jenny 10am Thursday. Not a perfect daily routine, but a weekly schedule, a sort of rhythm.

The key is scheduling the habit. The good habit of writing. Whether you’re a writer wanting to write, or you simply want to be more consistant with your workouts or work schedule. Sometimes you simply need to take a moment to listen to what is in your heart, make a promise to yourself, and find your rhythm to get back on track.

Write on!