Moms, are you feeling guilty about the time you spend writing your book? I feel you. It's funny how nobody wants anything to do with you until you sit down to work on writing. Then, when you say you're busy, you see that look; that look of disappointment. Nothing hurts more than when you see that bottom lip curve upwards, that nose scrunch, and them stomp that foot. It makes you feel awful and when you close that laptop, it makes you feel like a failure. Yes, I know that people say that you shouldn't feel that way. You have a right to pursue your passion. I totally agree. You should live your dream, but if you are like me, you feel family should come first and those feelings don't just go away. It takes time, practice, and a mind shift. Don't worry, I got you with some tips to smash the guilt when writing.
Every business is better with a plan and yes if you are writing a book, it is a business. And if you don't see it that way, you need to start. Being an author isn't all about the writing. Y'all will hear me say this over and over. There is so much more to it. There are social media posts, blog, website, and many more author duties. Don't freak out. I know it sounds like a lot, but there are things you can do to make it easier. Scheduling will be a huge part of this. I will have a blog on scheduling soon, but for now, let's talk about what you should schedule. There are three things to schedule to maximize your time as an author when it comes to family. These three things are social media posts, newsletters, and blog posts. There are systems to do this, but for now, just write it down in a calendar weekly, monthly, or yearly. I would start out with just a week. Then, when you are used to the process, you can go for longer if you wish.
While we are in scheduling mode, I want you to think about family time. Let's say you have a full-time job and you come home after a long day, you have to start supper do laundry, clean the table off for supper, clean the kitchen, get baths taken care of, and by that time it's bedtime. There is no time left for you. So, you either stay up late to get the job done or you leave it for another day. Been there, done that. It is exhausting and it is an emotional roller coaster. Let's get some of that time back to write.
Just like scheduling time for your business, you need to schedule time with the family. This may feel a bit wrong. Family comes first, right? And yes, every time and that is exactly why you should schedule. A few things I recommend are after school activities and family outings. These are things that you don't want to miss so scheduling just as you would a business meeting will help you to never miss out on the fun with your loved ones.
Another way to smash the guilt other than scheduling is to use teamwork. Your family is your team. I am positive that they will want you to succeed as much as you do. Get them involved. It's always easier when you have help. Delegate tasks such as content ideas, research, or make up something for them to do. After all, they really just want to be with you. Well, before they reach their teens anyway.
You can also put them to work with household chores. Every child should have chores in my opinion. Why not use it to your advantage. This will free up a lot of your time. Use the time you would have spent on chores to work on your writing.
These are just a few ideas on getting some time back you have lost for writing your book and also to balance out family life. If there is one thing, I know I want and that is family time. I don't want anything to interfere with that. By using these strategies, you should be able to balance your time well.
If you have any tips on time management, please send them to us. We would love to hear them.
Thanks,
MJ
Comments