If you’re like me, you’re often very busy. Many writers of college textbook supplements are also full- or part-time college faculty, which means you try to fit your writing in and around teaching, family responsibilities, errands, exercise, and all the other things that make up life.
Time management is very important, and there are many ways we can get the most out of our days so we can accomplish everything that is important to us. Productivity is of great interest to me and is something I’ve studied and improved over the last 20 or so years. Matter of fact, I’m currently finishing my next book: Maximum Productivity for Freelance Writers. It should be available around the end of October and I’ll definitely announce it here.
So these days I’m working hard to finish my book and also working hard on PowerPoint(TM) lectures for a college textbook, along with several other projects. Plus I have to make time for weight lifting, hiking, tai chi, yoga, walking the dog, spending time with my sweetie, cooking — you get the point. And we’re planning a quick four-day trip to Lake Tahoe over the weekend.
How to do it all? Get good at blocking out time. We all have to do this, and fortunately Ali Hale at the Aliventures blog has provided us with excellent advice on blocking out time. Here are the main topics Ali covers:
Work Fills the Time Available
Unimportant Tasks Get Sidelined During Crunch Time
You Can Work Harder When You’ve Got a Break Coming Up
Blocking Out Time Means Avoiding Commitments
Blocking Out Working Time
Blocking Out Leisure Time
Give it a good read and then get to work. Or play.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks very much for the link, John! I’ve never tried textbook writing (sounds like too much hard work
) but I can imagine how it must require a lot of self-discipline and dedication to remaining productive.
Hope you have a great trip!
Thanks for writing Ali. I’ve definitely been blocking out my time over the last few days. I have a big textbook supplement that’s due on Wednesday, plus a book to finish, plus a grant to proofread.
And I’m motivated in large part because I’ve blocked out time for exploring the Lake Tahoe area.