How to “find the time.”

Today was one of those days where I opened up my notes app, took a look at a blank page, and had no where to begin.

The reality is… this was my fault because I didn’t plan out for a specific topic to write about.

Planning the day before is so important because it puts your subconscious to work over night – and almost always leads to some of your best work.

I make excuses that I can’t “find the time” to do the things that I KNOW I need to do.

Now, your thing might not be writing. But you have SOMETHING that you want to do each day and build a habit out of it, right?

Think of that thing for the following steps.

Steps for “Finding the Time”

Here are the things that almost always lead to better/easier writing sessions:

  1. Pre-planning an idea
  2. Waking up early & writing within the first hour
  3. Staying consistent with my routine (personal accountability)
  4. Finding “a spot” to do your work
  5. Making it as EASY as possible

During my 100+ day writing streak last year, one of the biggest things I can remember was waking up EARLY in the pitch dark each morning, heading to my prepped & planned “spot,” and typing away until the sun came up.

Each morning getting out of bed was difficult. It really never came easy. But with each day that I did it, my confidence grew and I wanted to continue the streak. I was proud of myself.

This is certainly a testament to having a place to do your work that makes it as easy as possible to do so.

Plan It Out

When you have a time, place, and purpose for doing something – it’s much more likely to happen consistently and effectively.

For me, planning out my daily writing, Bible reading, and even video editing is very beneficial (even if I’m far from perfect haha).

If you don’t make the time for something… it simply isn’t going to happen.

  • You must put it on the calendar.
  • Work it into your schedule.
  • Plan it out the day or week before.

My “anti-structure” past-self dislikes hearing all of this, but it’s incredibly important.

An unstructured life is a mess. Unfortunately it’s true.

Start with an Idea

If you don’t have an idea for something you want to create – it leaves you staring at a blank page in an unproductive manner.

If you don’t have a place for something, it gives you a reason and excuse to push it off. It just adds “one more” thing to add to the list of “to-dos.”

If you don’t have a streak of doing the thing, it lowers your confidence in your ability to make it happen. If you’ve done something 30, 100, or 500 days in a row – your willingness to do it again is going to be much higher. You make yourself accountable.

This is why IDEAS, TIME, PLACE, and STRUCTURE are so important in completing any task, or building any habit.

Make It EASY

A common theme for me lately has been lowering the barrier to entry. If you want to do something more often, make it as EASY as possible to make it happen.

Remove the distractions, create a place for it, schedule it beforehand, have a game plan and idea of what/how, and build up a streak and routine to make it harder to STOP doing the thing.

If you paint, set your brushes and paint colors out on the table the day before.

If you cook, prep the ingredients the night before and prepare the recipe to make.

If you create videos, have your camera, tripod, and studio space set up in a neat manner.

Make it difficult to pass up.

Questions for You

  • What have you been wanting to “find the time” for, but haven’t yet?
  • What’s the thing that you say you’re going to do once you have more free time?
  • What habit have you been wanting to build?

If it isn’t scheduled AND structured, it probably won’t happen as likely as you want it to.

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