I’ll work on this when my life calms down. Have you ever said that to yourself? I certainly have.
The problem is—my life never calms down. Something always comes up: people schedule meetings that I have to attend, my dog needs more allergy medication, my disabled son needs my help, or I have to go to the chiropractor because the arthritis in my neck is acting up. The list goes on. Many of these things are very important, so whatever it is that I really wanted to do, like finish the draft of a novel or write this newsletter, takes a backseat.
Years ago, I read the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and lately I’ve been thinking about habit three, “put first things first.” I’ve realized that while there will always be distractions, I need to consider writing as a priority. In this new year, I resolve to do so by setting aside time on my calendar for writing and not scheduling anything else during those times.
What do you do to prevent life from distracting you from your creative endeavors?