Writing is a blast, but it is taxing. Those who don’t write or regularly engage in creative processes might not understand just how much energy and brainpower go into creating fictional worlds and characters. But there are things we can do to help set us up for a great and successful week of writing. Here are three things you can do over the weekend or on Mondays that will set you up for writing success during the week.

Tip #1: Schedule Time Off

Time off, especially if you work from home, can be hard to come by for writers. But it is essential to give your brain a break to avoid burning out. By scheduling time off, you have something on the calendar that you are more likely to pay attention to and actually follow through on. At the beginning of each week, pick how much time you will work each day and when you will “clock out” and shift over to “free time” headspace. This time management doesn’t mean you can’t write, but it means that the less enjoyable tasks you do for work, or the overall “work mode,” need to end for a short time so you can focus on relaxing, even if you relax by writing. That said, I recommend scheduling time each day when you do not write at all. This planned break will give your brain some much-needed rest, even if it is just for an hour at lunch, or in the evenings when you spend time with family.

Tip #2: Engage with Your Creative Hobbies

The weekend is a great time to engage with your creative hobbies. But being creative outside of the writing process is not important only because it’s fun. Being creative outside of work is like exercising a different muscle than you're used to. It gives your working brain time to relax but keeps those creative juices flowing. I often feel refreshed and even inspired when it comes time to dive back into work after a weekend of non-writing creativity. Sometimes I even have new ideas that I can’t wait to put into play in whatever writing project I am working on that week.

Tip #3: Cook for the Week

Adult life means cooking. It’s just a fact. And cooking takes time. If you are a mother or father, especially a stay-at-home parent, you know how much time cooking and cleaning take up each day. If you want to free up more time for writing, cook all the food you need for the week over the weekend or on Monday. Many meals will last a week or can be frozen and warmed on the stove much faster than if you had to cook them. Another option is to choose the meal that takes the longest and prepare that one beforehand. For me, this is dinner. I cook my lunch and dinner for the week on Mondays. I also often have breakfast prepared (usually overnight oats). But sometimes I don’t. But with the lunch and dinner menus ready and waiting, I have more time to write than when I was cooking each meal as needed. Slow cookers are great for this prep work, too, because you can work while they cook instead of standing near the stove to make sure things don’t burn.

Happy Writing

These tips have really helped me each week as I pursue my writing goals, and I hope they do the same for you. Are there things you do to prepare for your week of writing? Comment and let me know! And as always, happy writing!