When You’re Tired Or Distracted, What Keeps Your Writing On Track?

By Dan Smith

Trying to stay focused constantly as a freelance writer can be difficult — sometimes, we just want to curl up and go to sleep.

These past two weeks have been a little hectic for me. We’ve had a new addition to the (close but extended) family, an unusually (but fantastically) busy time with several new leads ands clients and due to the good weather we’ve been having lately, a few parties to attend.

It’s been a good hectic, but hectic nonetheless.

All the necessary work has been carried out and not many people in either my personal or business life would realise that these few weeks have been anything other than normal.

Today, though, the plates on top of the poles are starting to wobble and I’m heading towards feeling exhausted. I need a lengthy break, but unfortunately that’s not going to happen any time soon.

When I’m tired, however, I get distracted easily — and when I get in the mood where everything seems to distract me, it takes all I’ve got to stay on-track and motivated.

For instance, I start by taking the weekend off and relaxing fully, but with a little time to catch up with some general admin or routine tasks — they’re the monotonous ones that are easy to do but draining, making me feel even more susceptible to distractions throughout the week.

I then plan. I work out what needs to be done urgently, what doesn’t and structure the coming weeks in this way.

And then as I work through the schedule, I tick parts off when they’re complete — for me at least, there’s nothing as satisfying as seeing your ‘To Do’ list getting smaller and smaller.

I also let myself have a day to feel down. When you’re speaking with colleagues, clients, friends and family constantly, you don’t have the opportunity to let your real emotions out.

So today I’ve moaned. I’ve moped about and I’ve looked a bit miserable. I’ve essentially wasted a day — but I know tomorrow I’ll think to myself ‘why the hell are you being so damn miserable?! Shake yourself up, Smith!’.

And it will do the trick.

We all have times when we don’t feel great. We’re tired, we’re upset, we’re easily distracted or we just simply can’t be bothered.

As employees of large organisations, it’s can be easier to pass these days off as lost days — someone’s still paying our wage, the work won’t be affected that much and you’ll soon be back on form.

As freelance writers, however, having one ‘off day’ can seem like something we simply can’t do and we have to fight through it.

But that’s not the answer. Take some time out if you’re not feeling on top of your game and do something you want to do — even if that’s doing nothing.

As long as your deadlines are being met and there’s no major disruption to the service you’re offering, a bit of time off will do you the world of good, as if you’re anything like me, you’ll come back feeling refreshed, motivated and more focused than ever before.