This is the bulletin board that hangs above my desk. It features a favorite quote and three questions that I ask myself every day.
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” — Nora Ephron
Have you read for pleasure today?
Have you created today?
Have you walked or exercised today?
What’s been frustrating me for years is that I often don’t answer “yes” to these questions, and yet, they focus on three of the most important things to me: reading, creating, and good health.
But all that changed yesterday.
Yesterday, February 1, 2016, was my first day as a full-time writer.
I now have the flexibility and the motivation to create a daily schedule that reflects my values and my passions. Here’s how it went.
8:30 AM: Wake up, brush teeth, eat breakfast, read the newspaper, meditate, and shower
10:30 AM: Answer emails and tweet
11:40 AM: Go for walk (twice a week, go to Qigong class)
12:45 PM: Lunch and read
2:00 PM: Write, plan, revise, edit
3:30 PM: Break
4:00 PM: More writing, revising, etc.
5:30 PM: Cook
6:30 PM: Dinner with the Hubs
7:30 PM: Administrative tasks and last emails
8:30 PM: Relaxation and Free Time
11 PM: In bed
So, how did it feel to be on this new schedule?
Absolutely heavenly.
It was heavenly because it fits who I am, what I like to do, and when I like to do it.
Unlike so many people who say you should always do the most important thing first (as in, write!), I don’t work on my writing until I’ve read for pleasure, eaten two meals, and exercised. Why? A couple of reasons.
First, I’m not a morning person and it takes me a good while to get going. Second, I’m a very strong J in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). In case you don’t know much about MBTI, let me tell you that J-people love closure; they love to check things off their to-do lists. It gives me great pleasure and makes me feel really good when I do this. So, I’d much rather finish certain things from my list (emails, tweets, exercise, read) and then have an uninterrupted period of time when I can delve into my creative endeavors without thinking about all the other things I need to do.
The older I get, and the more experience I have, the more I realize that in order for me to be successful in anything, let alone as a writer, I need to know myself and follow what’s right for me.
Not every day will conform to this ideal schedule. Some days (like today, only my second day!) won’t go smoothly due to appointments that can’t be rescheduled or sudden emergencies or Mercury being in retrograde (I have no idea what that means but it seems like whenever I’m having hard days, I’ll hear that Mercury’s in retrograde). But that’s okay. As long as I know what I want to do every day, I have something good to reach for. Over time, if I stick to a schedule that works for me, I’ll be able to produce my best work. And that’s good enough for me.
September 11, 2017 UPDATE: Over the last 19 months, since I first started writing full time, my writing schedule has changed a lot. A LOT! Sometimes I wrote in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes at night. It took me a long time to figure out a schedule that was best for my writing and my personal preferences. I now write mostly in the morning and early afternoon, sometime from 10am-2pm, preferably from 10am to noon. Because writing requires me to make hundreds of decisions, it’s best for me to write when I have the least amount of decision fatigue. That’s why I switched from writing in the afternoon/evening to writing in the morning/early afternoon. For more details, watch my vlog, How to Feel the Fear & Write Every Day.
Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is also the founder of Prelaw Guru, a law school application consulting company, and the author of The No B.S. Guides for prelaw students.
I just love this Peg! The inside view into you and the new life you’re creating. It’s inspiring and I heartily agree with you about finding the best time of day for different types of energies and activities. I liked your insight about how your desire for closure and enjoyment of open-ended creative time means saving your writing for later in the day. Kind of surprising yet cool.
I find I tend to put off walking/dance/movement unless I start the day with it, so I’m right with ya there. I’d love a follow up post after you’ve been doing this for a few weeks/months to hear how it’s all evolving.
Thanks for your kind words, Laila! Yep, we’re on the same page when it comes to finding the best time of day for different things we want to do. I will definitely write a follow-up post after I’ve been doing this routine for three months or so. I might post something sooner if things change before then.
Smart move : (colon)
To discard the obstructions to your more important writing
recognize when to call it as unsatisfying
putting your heart on the page
Congratulations on A LITERAL colon cleanse.
Brenda in Vancouver
Whoa! I don’t want THAT kind of cleanse. đ
Thanks for the peek into your writing life–I’m glad someone else hates writing in the morning. But let me run your train of thought off the rails a bit: my reason for hating morning writing is crazy, but I’m curious if it resonates with anyone else.
Are you familiar with concept of the nöosphere? It’s Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s idea that all humanityâs thoughts form a natural, shared space, like the biosphere or atmosphere. (I only know enough about the nöosphere to thoroughly abuse it.) Anyway, when I try to tune in the muse in the morning, I seem to hear instead the static of millions of productive, caffeine-fueled brains, pumping out memos and spreadsheets, making appointments, and generally whipping the communal brainspace into a froth. It seems to settle down in the coffee-crash afternoon, but the nightâŠah, the night, that’s when the static truly dies as minds turn to pleasure or sleep, and only then can those distant, mysterious stations be dialed in.
Anyway, what is really inspiring (and intimidating) is your organization and work ethic. Iâm reminded of a quote from Flaubert: âBe regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.â Rock on, Cubby!
You amaze me, Edgy. No, I haven’t heard of nöosphere but it makes complete sense to me. I definitely am one of those millions that’s making appointments, typing emails, and generally “whipping the communcal brainspace into a froth” (love how you put that!) in the morning. Maybe that is why I feel more able to think creatively in the afternoons? Mornings feel right for getting things done and checking things off my to-do list. The afternoon feels more open and free for creating things and deep thinking.
I’m glad my organization and work ethic are inspiring to you. I don’t think of it as being great or intimidating but thanks for letting me know. It reminds me that we all see things in different ways and what might seem “normal” to one person is not the norm for another. But we all must work in ways that work best for us and not for someone else. Love that Flaubert quote too. đ
Yes, we all have to find our own way, but my haphazard one is no longer working–thus the inspiration/intimidation factor. I’m going to see if I can take your sturdy afternoon writing habit, and graft it onto my night-blooming apple tree. (Choosing to be inspired, rather than intimidated, I suppose.) Anyway, I look forward to reading your posts on a more regular basis, now that you’re a full-time writer!
Wow! I’m so glad to hear you’re inspired to try my afternoon writing habit! Fantastic. You’ll have to let me know how it goes and whether the graft on your night-blooming apple tree bears fruit. I hope it does.
So far, so goodâIâve been writing late in the evening, and have made headway on an article Iâd put off for eons. Hard to believe, but itâs even more fulfilling than the internet. Now just to keep goingâŠI may try a visual prompt like your âHave you created today?â on your bulletin board. Iâm curiousâyou said you were frustrated for years at not answering âyesâ to those questionsâdid you have them up on the board all that time, or is this a recent thing?
That’s awesome to hear, Edgy! Keep at it! Let me know when your article’s out. I’d love to read it.
I’ve had “Have you created today?” on my bulletin board for a little less than two years. Yes, it frustrated me to see it almost every day and to not be able to answer “yes.” After a while, I just stopped looking at it. Ah, avoidance rears its ugly head.