Try my unique hack for huge productivity (and big money) as a writer
I’ve been a professional writer for my entire career, which has given me some undeniable advantages in the part-time creator game.
But I also have one massive disadvantage when it comes to productivity.
Although the actual process of writing has become relatively easy after all the reps I’ve put in, I also have to live and work with ADHD on a daily basis.
The challenges that come with an always-crackling brain as a content creator are two-fold:
Although the actual act of writing is easy, the act of getting my butt into a chair and prioritizing getting started is not.
Because I’m so easily distracted and constantly in search of dopamine-producing novelty, it can be difficult to concentrate on just one topic or subject for even 1 hour.
The way I cope with these challenges is that I lean heavily on systems to “trick” my brain into getting what I need to do, done.
I believe the concepts I’ve developed to keep my brain on track are applicable to anyone who struggles with distraction and procrastination — ADHD or not.
I touched on this recently in an article I wrote called “Steal my ADHD writing system for huge productivity and earnings”.
There’s one little hack I use that I didn’t really dig into, however, and I think it might actually be the most valuable one.
Writing in microbursts
When I’m planning my week of writing, I make sure I have at least 4–8 articles on the go at once.
It might seem a little counterproductive or intimidating to have that many active posts.
You might fear that, with your attention spread across so many pieces of work, none of them will wind up actually getting finished.
Here’s the catch, however, the unique little wrinkle that has allowed me to hypercharge my productivity as an ADHD writer:
I only allow myself to write on one topic for 15 minutes at a time.
So, for each of the 4–8 articles in my active batch, I’ll create a file for each and add a great headline.
Each of these article ideas goes into my production journal and looks like this:
Allow me to explain what you see above.
Each box has a title, and below each, you’ll see 3 bullet points that say “WS 15” with a checkbox.
Typically I put myself on a deadline of 45 minutes total to write a 1,000-word article, which is why there are 3.
This is my way of time blocking.
Now, most people will time block into 25–30 minute blocks, which is standard if you’re using a Pomodoro timer method.
But as I said, my brain is in constant need of novelty, so I reduce it to 15 to make sure I’m always operating at peak efficiency.
I call these little 15-minute power sessions “microbursts”.
Each article gets one microburst, and then I move on to the next one.
This reduces the likelihood that my ADHD brain will get bored and, instead of working, find something that is both dopamine-producing and a massive waste of time.
Procrastination is a constant battle for most people — even more for those novelty-seeking ADHD types.
Because my brain jumps all over the place, going back to the same piece several times can allow me to fill in gaps that I may have jumped over earlier and forgotten to circle back to on the first pass.
It also forces me to proofread any given piece several times because every time I hop into a file, I have to remind myself what I’ve written and where I was.
Exceptions
There are exceptions to my 15-minute rule, of course.
If I find myself in such a deep flow state that I don’t even realize my timer has run out, I’ll simply keep working until I come out of it.
Also, if I’m say 5 minutes away from completing and scheduling an article to publish, I’ll just push through and get the job done.
Although that does happen, for the most part, I make quick hits and move on.
Keep in mind too that this method doesn’t just apply to writing.
If I feel my attention starting to wane for writing entirely, I’ll go work a microburst on a YouTube video or my nascent publishing business.
You can also use it to increase your productivity at work. Maybe you’re working on your TPS report for 15 minutes, then put a quick hit in on clearing your inbox.
The major advantages
The point of this is, as much resistance you feel, as boring as something may be, anyone can manage 15 minutes of work.
It’s like when you’re trying to get started at the gym. You might hear someone say, “Just go walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes”.
If you’ve ever tried this, you know that walking on the treadmill for 5 minutes usually results in you getting in a reasonably full workout.
That’s because you’ve already overcome the hardest part: getting started.
The longer you can maintain consistency in sitting down just for those first 15 minutes, the easier it gets.