Strategies for Maintaining a Productive Writing Routine During the Holidays

How to Stay Creative & Productive During Winter

The holiday season is often a time of celebration, reflection, and relaxation. However, for writers, it can also be a time when productivity takes a hit. With social events, travel plans, and family commitments, staying on track with your holiday writing routine can feel like an uphill battle. But with the right strategies in place, you can not only maintain your writing schedule but also make meaningful progress on your projects during this bustling time of year. Here are some effective strategies to help you maintain a productive writing routine during the holidays.

Why Is It So Hard to Maintain a Holiday Writing Routine?

Before diving into strategies, it’s helpful to understand why maintaining a writing routine during the holidays is so challenging.

According to a 2021 survey by the American Psychological Association, 38% of people report increased stress levels during the holiday season, primarily due to financial pressures, social obligations, and unrealistic expectations. These factors, combined with the shorter days and colder weather, can make it difficult to maintain focus on personal projects, including writing. For writers, distractions are plentiful, and the temptation to take a break is stronger than ever.

However, there’s good news: with the right approach, it’s possible to navigate the holiday season while keeping your writing goals intact!

How Can You Keep Writing During the Holidays?

Set Realistic Goals

The key to maintaining productivity is setting achievable and realistic goals. It’s important to understand that during the holidays, you may not be able to dedicate the same amount of time to writing as you do during other parts of the year. Aiming to write 1,000 words a day may be unrealistic if you have family commitments or travel plans.

Instead, consider setting smaller, more manageable goals that fit into your schedule. Try writing for 30 minutes a day or committing to writing 300 words per session. This way, you’ll still make progress on your project without feeling overwhelmed.

Block Out Time for Writing

The holiday season is busy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t carve out time for writing. In fact, it’s even more important to schedule your writing time during this period. Consider blocking out time in your calendar, treating it as a non-negotiable appointment.

If your usual writing routine takes place in the morning but holiday events frequently cause interruptions, try adjusting your writing time to the evenings or on weekends when you’re less likely to be distracted. If that still doesn’t work, aim for shorter bursts of writing throughout the day. Writing during quiet moments, such as early mornings or late at night, can help you stay on track.

Embrace Micro-Writing Sessions

Sometimes, writing for hours just isn’t feasible during the holidays. In these cases, it’s helpful to embrace micro-writing sessions—short, focused writing periods that allow you to work around your schedule.

Micro-writing sessions can range from 10 to 30 minutes, and while they may seem brief, they add up over time. If you write for just 15 minutes each day, that’s 105 minutes over the course of a week, or nearly two hours. These small but consistent writing efforts can help you keep the momentum going and make progress on your writing goals.

Stay Flexible

The holiday season often brings unexpected changes to your schedule. While it’s important to stick to your writing routine as much as possible, you should also remain flexible. If an impromptu holiday gathering or family event throws off your plans, don’t stress. Instead, adapt by shifting your writing time to another part of the day or the following day.

Being flexible allows you to stay productive without becoming overly stressed. Remember, a missed writing session isn’t the end of the world, but frequent missed sessions can hinder your progress.

Set Boundaries With Family and Friends

During the holidays, it’s easy for social obligations to take over your schedule. However, setting boundaries with family and friends can help you balance your social life with your writing goals.

Let your loved ones know that you need some quiet, uninterrupted time for writing. It’s not always easy to ask for space, but being clear about your needs will help others understand your commitment to your holiday writing routine. You may also want to set boundaries around when you’re available for social events, giving yourself guilt-free time to write before joining in on the festivities.

Make Use of Writing Tools and Apps

Technology can be a valuable ally for maintaining productivity during the holidays. Various writing tools and apps are designed to help you stay on track with your writing goals.

For instance, apps like Focus@Will provide background music designed to improve focus, while Freedom blocks distracting websites, helping you stay concentrated. Additionally, word count tracking tools like Scrivener or Pacemaker can provide motivation and help you monitor your progress.

Apps like Google Docs or Evernote make it easy to write on the go, whether you’re traveling or stuck at a family gathering. Keeping your writing accessible on all devices ensures you can seize every available moment for writing.

Take Advantage of Holiday Downtime

While the holidays are busy, there are often pockets of downtime. Take advantage of these quiet moments to write! Whether you’re waiting for a holiday meal to cook or lounging on the couch after a family event, these moments can be surprisingly productive.

If you have downtime during travel, such as waiting at airports or long train rides, make the most of it by bringing a notebook or using a writing app on your phone or tablet. Writing during these in-between moments can help you maintain a consistent flow, even during the busiest times.

Focus on Revision or Outlining

If drafting new material feels overwhelming during the holidays, focus on other aspects of the writing process, such as revising or outlining. The holidays can be a great time to refine existing work, revisit previous chapters, or plan your next steps for the coming year.

If you’re not in the mood to write new content, spend time brainstorming or plotting your next chapter. This will allow you to maintain momentum while giving your mind a break from the demands of drafting.

How Do You Avoid Holiday Burnout?

While maintaining a writing routine is important, it’s equally essential to avoid burnout. The holidays are supposed to be a time for relaxation and joy, so don’t let the pressure to write interfere with your well-being.

Be sure to take breaks and prioritize self-care. Go for walks, relax with a holiday movie, or spend time with loved ones without feeling guilty about your writing. Allowing yourself time to recharge can help you come back to your writing routine feeling refreshed and motivated.

Benefits of a Holiday Writing Routine

Despite the challenges, there are several benefits to maintaining a writing routine during the holidays.

First, writing can provide a much-needed escape from the holiday hustle and bustle. It allows you to focus on your creative work and offers a sense of accomplishment, even during a busy season.

Second, writing during the holidays can set a positive tone for the new year. By finishing the year strong and staying productive, you’ll begin the next year with a sense of achievement and momentum.

Lastly, writing during the holidays can provide a sense of structure and normalcy. For those who thrive on routine, keeping up with writing can help maintain a sense of balance and focus, especially when life feels chaotic.

Maintaining a productive writing routine during the holidays can be challenging, but with the right strategies, it’s entirely possible. By setting realistic goals, carving out dedicated writing time, and embracing flexibility, you can continue making progress on your writing projects while still enjoying the festivities. Remember, the holiday season doesn’t have to derail your writing routine—it’s simply about adjusting and finding balance. Happy writing, and may your holidays be filled with creativity and productivity!

Erin K. Larson-Burnett, Production Manager at Atmosphere Press (submit your manuscript here!), is a born-and-raised Southerner currently living in Katy, Texas, with her husband and their small domestic zoo. She is an avid ink drinker who lives and breathes books—during the day, she works remotely with authors around the world, honing and perfecting books published through Atmosphere Press. By night, she crafts her own stories…or at least tries to. The Bear & the Rose is her debut novel.