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Ergonomics
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- Use the proper chair, desk, keyboard, monitor
height.
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Try an ergonomic keyboard. It puts your
forearms at a natural angle instead of forcing them to 90° which
stressed the muscles.
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Too much light in the room can cause eyestrain.
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Prolonged periods using a computer can cause
dry eyes because you concentrate so intensely that you forget to
blink!
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Software is available that pops up and reminds
you to take a break and do some exercises.
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When searching or saving takes more than a few
seconds, jump up and run around the room!
Links to articles about ergonomics for writers
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GOALS
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- Prioritize
the items on your to-do lists.
- Remember to have devotions and
pray about the day ahead.
- Do not neglect your family. God honors people whose priorities
match His.
- Personal and professional goals will give you a sense of direction
and help you achieve more significant results in less time. Make
sure they are specific, measurable, realistic and achievable. For
more on goal setting (links)
- Delegate as much as you can. The children are old enough to fold
their own laundry!
- Write a to-do list every evening
for the next day.
- Select the time of day when you are
least alert to do the mundane tasks on your list.
- Make a priority list based on your
areas of interest, skills and things you do well. Check it often
to make sure you are not drifting from your goals.
- Set a goal to write __ pages a day,
or __ hours a day.
- If the Holy Spirit says “no” you must say it also.
Links for Goal Setting
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TECHNOLOGY
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- Personal
productivity can be increased by being better equipped to use
current technology.
- E-mail can
be a tyrant or a tool. Learn how to make it work for you. Dispense
with e-mail as quickly as possible. Get a spam filter. Write e-mail
after you are finished working.
- Cope with the information explosion. Do you need to know
everything?
- Use a personal organizer, PDA, or software like Outlook® to track
telephone calls, assignments, and other information. Take computer
classes if you spend more time frustrated than you spend writing.
- Photocopies are not expensive but
travel-time can be. If you use photocopies in research and other
aspects of writing, consider a small home copy machine. A
reconditioned model might be your best choice.
Links for a writer's use of
technology
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TIME
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- Stop often
to pray—get direction from God. It’s also the best way to manage
stress and frustration, and avoid burnout.
- Watch the time you waste. If you procrastinate, find the cause.
Be honest with yourself.
If you are not sure you
are capable of doing what you are avoiding, then take those fears to the
Lord and seek His grace rather than wasting more time.
- Guard the time you spend on the telephone. Some writers will not
take calls at all while they are working.
- Use waiting time, travel time, and driving time to work on your
projects or read (or relax; you might need it!)
- Write at the same time each day.
- Set a time each day to answer mail
and e-mail.
- Interruptions can be an excuse to procrastinate, or an appointment
from the Lord; learn the difference.
Time Management Links
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HABITS
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Replace bad habits with good ones. It’s that biblical principle of
“put off the old – put on the new!”
- Organize
your space. Rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the required
self-discipline.
- Avoid letting paper pile up on your desk. Try to
touch it once, or twice at most. Use the “round file” as often as
you can!
Keep handy the folders for your
current work. Include a folder for personal and family items.
- Journal (or blog) your thoughts
about daily progress. It will help you focus.
- If writing at home has too many
distractions, take notepad or laptop to a nearby library, coffee
shop or other place where you can better focus.
- Go for a long walk at the time of
day when you most need to be calm, get ideas, talk to God.
- If you are highly interested in
many things and have trouble settling on one project (and have
mountains of unfinished projects), realize this requires extra
effort to control.
- If you tend to get bogged down with too many projects,
remember to subtract before you add!
Links about better writing habits
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