I think anybody who’s really made an effort to write understands that it’s not about wishing you had the time, or even finding the time, but making the time to write.
With three kids under five, free time is a joke. My efforts to make time to write are hurting my well-being and my family. (This is because that made time never seems to start until 11 PM, and Baby has a special “Mommy’s exhausted” alarm clock that rings at 5:30AM.) (And 2AM.) (And midnight.)
So I’m thinking it’s time for a change. For a long time, I’ve been attracted to the idea of getting up early to get most of my writing in. I love the idea of having a thousand or more words written by the time the kids attack get up. (I also like the idea of actually being out of bed before they get up 😉 .)
So last night, when I was up too late already, I saw Kelly Stone’s guest post about writing schedules. And the early morning schedule was the very first one listed (of seven—seven different writing schedule options).
So I’ve undertaken the challenge, starting this morning. (Ooooor not. That special “Mommy’s exhausted alarm” kicked in from 12-1AM and 5-6AM, and that pretty much killed the what I thought was very reasonable 7 AM wake-up time.) As part of my challenge, I’m going to make myself accountable to report on what time I actually get up (and what I do thereafter). I’ll Tweet about it (I know, that really makes you want to follow me) and put a note in a post if I’m blogging that day.
Do you have a goal for your writing schedule? Have you ever tried to change?
Photo by Grant MacDonald
Oh, lady. I hear you, I hear you. I finally talked my husband into a two hour, two day/week preschool for my three year old so I can get some reading/writing time in… but number three is coming in two months so I’ll be in the same spot as you, though my oldest IS in kindergarten. Good luck! I’ve never bit the early schedule bullet. I hope it works out!
We do a preschool group with four other families from church. Last year, when I had a 3 year old and an 18 month old, I could put my toddler down while the 3 year old was in AM preschool TTh. It was great! Until she outgrew the nap…
I sure do sympathize with the sleepless and interrupted nights. I think your schedule has to be flexible enough to accommodate your family priorities (and your need for rest!). The children will grow up faster than you can imagine, and then you’ll be able to change your schedule yet again. I’m definitely not a morning person — can’t get my brain in gear until after 8 a.m. — so for me, working in the late evenings is best. Once company has left, or family is in bed and the house is quiet, I can get a remarkable amount of writing done in one or two hours before I wind down for the night. Most days I also write in the mid- to late-morning but the evenings are my most productive time.
I’m not good at mornings, either, but I’m hoping that will get better with time. (Plus, staying up past midnight meant I couldn’t get out of bed before 8, no matter how many kids were awake and crying/wandering around the house.)
Those early kid years are nothing BUT a constant re-evaluation and re-adjusting of schedules. I swear, my writing schedule (such as it was) morphed as often as nap times did. The trick is plugging along and doing your best to find even 30 minutes a day–somewhere.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one who struggles with this stage. Sigh. It’s a good thing I love those kids (as I tell them several times a day).
I’m itching so hard to WRITE, but it’s going to be at least a couple of weeks before that happens again, and probably mor like months. Giving up sleep is just not an option for me (insert envy here) and the rest of life is packed to overflowing.