1. Habits and motivation for writers
Aidan Doyle
Continuum 15
@aidan_doyle

2. Overview Self Worth vs Productivity SMART Goals Goals vs Systems
Pomodoro Technique
Getting Things Done
Don’t Break the Chain
To Do Lists
Habits
Procrastination
Shared Accountability
Measuring Progress

3. Self worth vs Productivity
You’re not a bad person if you’re not “productive.”

4. SMART GOALS Specific Measurable Attainable (or Achievable)
Realistic (or Relevant)
Time-based
I want to write more. I’m going to finish the first draft of my novel by the end of the year.
Booklife
Jeff VanderMeer

5. Goals vs systems Don’t fall into trap of I’ll be happy when…
Unless you want it to, don’t think of goal as stopping point.
Focus on the process rather than the goal.

6. Pomodoro TEchnique Set a timer for 25 minutes. Focus on one task.
Take a 5 minute break.
Repeat.
The Pomodoro Technique

7. Getting things done Capture ideas and tasks in an In List.
Sorting Items – Actionable, Incubate, or Reference?
Can it be completed in under 2 minutes?
Item has multiple steps – put it in a projects list.
Next Action List
Some day List
Calendar
Weekly review
Getting Things Done
David Allen
GTD in 15 Minutes

8. Don’t break the chain Calendar or Tracker App Bubble Wrap Calendar
Dave Seah’s Compact Calendar

9. To do Lists
Todoist, To-Do, Things, Any.do, Remember the Milk, TickTick
Trello
Workflowy
Bullet Journal

10. Habits Convenience. (What’s the easiest thing?)
Cues. (Visual reminders).
Make new habits as easy as possible to start.
Make bad habits less convenient to do.
Habit stacking. (After I put the breakfast dishes in the sink, I’ll write for 30 minutes).
Implementation Plan (Where/When)
If, Then.
Start now, rather than waiting for optimum time.
Atomic Habits
James Clear

11. Procrastination Not laziness. Often a way of dealing with anxiety.
Artificial deadlines.
Getting started.
Schedule play first.
Emotional To Do List should-write-an-emotional-to-do-list/
The Now Habit
Neil Fiore

12. Shared accountability
Writing buddy.
Critique group.
Monthly goals on Trello.
Word wars.
FocusMate
Negative motivation.

13. Habitica Fight monsters with friends!
Your Life, the Role Playing Game.
Get XP and Gold for completing your habits.

14. Measuring progress Stickers Charts
Habit Trackers (Habit Bull, everyday, Habit Hub)
Forest (
Gems in a bowl
Writer’s bingo chart ( 9l7kN9tN0De7WTDGmXv3jbVhM_kXk/)