Building a Getting Started For Work Habit for Writers

 

A bit of a different blog post today - the one that I had in mind didn't pan out, so here's something that might help creatives in the long run, especially if you're working for an agency, company, or any type of desk job that has regular hours. 

Header image by waferboard on Flickr.

BUILD YOUR GETTING STARTED ROUTINE

It's a small thing, but I discovered that building a routine for "the start of the work session" helps a lot in cutting down the time I spend procrastinating. I do still end up getting distracted now and then, but overall instead of losing hours to the doomscroll or Youtube Binge because I don't like the task ahead of me, I set myself up to get that dopamine hit early that it carries over into my execution time.

This routine should look different to you, but the principles apply. The idea is to train your mind to associate certain actions in certain sequences as triggers for specific "modes" of thinking and doing. If you've ever set a routine for your phone such as "switch to silent mode when you hit a specific location," the principle is the same.

My WFH Getting Started Routine

My getting started routine for Work From Home (WFH) looks like this:

1. Wake up at least one to two hours before I'm supposed to start work (officially)
2. Make some hot coffee (I use an instant mix most days)
3. Put coffee aside to chill
4. Brush teeth, shower, use the loo, whatever I need to do in there. The shower is the key thing
5. Wear a specific pair of shorts - I have three of the same shorts, and they're what I call my "working" shorts, which I only use when I am working at home
6. Water my plants
7. Add cold water to the coffee (don't have easy access to ice which is why I do this)
8. Open office laptop and start my morning work routine

At the end of one routine, it's easier to transition to the second because I am already in the middle of chaining the routine. I have some "preset" ends which allow me to add in occurrences that won't break my mode but lets me transition smoothly from one state to the other.,

Doing this allows me to build in breakfast time (sometimes I have breakfast before I start the morning work routine) and gives me the flexibility to tackle different types of tasks in the morning - some days I want to start by checking emails, tickets, and messages, other days I just want to start with the task itself.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A ROUTINE?

It honestly depends on both your needs, awareness, and adaptability. My routine was built over several years and involved adding one tiny habit at a time to the chain. When I first started it was just with the shower and brushing teeth before getting ready for work. Then I slowly grew over time to add things in a manner that I thought best fit how much time I had.

You do need to take active notice now and then of the habit and routine you're trying to build, so you can make adjustments as needed, but ideally, once you've set it up the way you like, it should run mainly on autopilot, no matter where you go.

Good luck and happy weekend!