The life of an author is a delicate balancing act, teetering between writing, marketing, outreach, and, well, life.
With so many facets demanding attention, it’s easy to get caught in what feels like productivity but is, in fact, a form of procrastination.
Let’s talk about how to focus your time wisely to ensure your long-term success.
The Mirage of Productive Procrastination
Productive procrastination is a term that sounds oxymoronic but is a very real trap.
It’s those seemingly urgent but non-critical activities like checking social media, sorting through emails, or redesigning your website for the tenth time.
They give a veneer of productivity but do not move you closer to the one task that really matters: writing books.
Productive procrastination is an enticing trap.
It gives you the illusion that you’re making progress when, in reality, you’re spinning your wheels.
It can be as simple as spending hours designing the perfect cover for your novel before you’ve even finished the first chapter, or as complex as endlessly researching for authenticity to the point of not writing.
These tasks aren’t inherently bad. They’re often necessary parts of the writing process.
However, they become problematic when they prevent you from focusing on the main task: writing your story.
Identifying Productive Procrastination
So how do you know if you’re falling into the trap of productive procrastination? Here are a few tell-tale signs:
- You’re not meeting your writing goals. If your word count hasn’t budged in days because you’ve been caught up in ‘productive’ tasks, you might be procrastinating.
- You’re feeling overwhelmed. If you’re spending so much time on secondary tasks that you feel overwhelmed and anxious about your actual writing, it’s possible you’re avoiding the hard work of writing.
- You’re constantly busy, but not productive. If you’re always busy but your to-do list seems to get longer, not shorter, you’re likely stuck in a cycle of productive procrastination.
Overcoming Productive Procrastination
Recognising productive procrastination is the first step, but breaking free is another challenge. Here are some strategies to help you overcome this:
- Prioritise your tasks. Make a list of your tasks and rank them in order of importance. Writing should always be at the top. Ensure that you dedicate the largest portion of your day to this task before anything else.
- Set clear, attainable goals. Break your writing project into manageable chunks. Instead of aiming to “write a book,” aim to “write 500 words a day.” This will make the task seem less daunting and more achievable.
- Time blocking. Dedicate specific time slots to different tasks. For instance, only check your email or social media during a designated time and stick strictly to this schedule.
- Get an accountability partner. Having someone to hold you accountable can be a powerful deterrent against procrastination. Share your goals with a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor and ask them to check in on your progress.
By recognising its signs and implementing strategies to combat it, you can avoid falling into its trap. Remember, as an indie author, your primary task is to write.
Don’t let the mirage of productive procrastination lure you away from what truly matters.
Your ability to choose between the important and the unimportant is key.
As an author, your highest value task is writing.
When you spread yourself out, you end up spread thin.
Extraordinary results are determined by how narrow you can make your focus.
When to Delegate and Outsource
Know your strengths and stick to them.
The unique element you bring is your authorial voice. No one else can write your books for you.
However, social media updates, graphic design, and even email sorting can be outsourced.
When it comes to tasks that anyone can do, consider delegating.
Your time is valuable, and it’s best spent doing what only you can do.
Choosing Wisely
“One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all,” said management expert Brian Tracy.
Being busy isn’t the same as being productive.
Know what tasks align with your ultimate goals, and dedicate your time and efforts there.
While balancing the dual hats of being a writer and a marketer is challenging, the real struggle is in knowing where to apply your focus.
Avoid the lure of productive procrastination and remember, writing is your core function.
Choose activities that align with this primary role and delegate the rest. Your author career will thank you.
What are the ‘productive procrastination’ traps you find most alluring, and how do you plan to steer clear of them in the future?
CherryEdits 