Turn your waiting time into productive time

How many times have you found yourself waiting – in a queue, in traffic, to pick someone up, for a delivery, for a repair company to arrive, or for a phone call to be returned. Add up just how much time you spend “waiting” in a typical month?

When you add up the 15 minutes here and 10 minutes there with the occasional 30 minute waiting to pick up a teenager or spouse who is “just coming,” you can easily waste 6 hours a month doing nothing except feeling frustrated. Now imagine if you were given an extra 6 hours to spend on your writing – could you make use of that?

In order to make use of your 6 hours you need to:

1. Identify when and where you regularly have to wait, even if only for 5 minutes, e.g. in the supermarket.
2. Work out what you could do during these times, e.g. think about a character and make notes in a note book or using a phone app, make a to do list, note some ideas for your next blog post, take photos that would help you create dramatic settings. In some cases you may even be able to write out an entire scene. Note that if you are waiting in traffic you may only be able to think about your writing as using equipment would be inappropriate or illegal.
3. Be prepared – have a list of tasks to do and have the right equipment to hand. Always carry a small bag or backpack containing your mobile office which might only consist of your mobile phone, pen and notebook.

Even if you can only make use of half of your waiting time that is like being given an extra morning to work on your writing.

You never know – next time you are sat in the car waiting for someone you might even start wishing they would take a little longer.

Happy writing.