Activities that Inspire: Finding Time to Write Articles (Despite a Hectic Schedule)

Many of us have busy lives outside of article writing. Do you find yourself struggling to squeeze in time for writing between grocery shopping, taking the kids to extracurricular activities, driving to your own classes and keeping the house in order? Why not multitask, and sneak in a little extra work as you can throughout the day? I find myself coming up with article topic ideas -- and even writing bits and pieces of it in my head -- as I complete these everyday tasks.

Get your blood pumping. While some people find inspiration as they relax under a shade tree, others prefer to work up a sweat. Rather than zoning out during your morning run, keep your mind busy planning out your next article. On your way back, run straight for the computer so you don't lose what you have already written in your mind (showering can wait a few minutes longer, can't it?).

Take a shower. Some people sing in the shower; others might take this time to think and plan out their day (or reflect upon it, if you shower in the evenings). A few of my best article ideas were born during my morning shower ritual. Keep a notepad and pen in your dressing area to jot down your ideas while they are still fresh.

Read the newspaper. Do you like to read the daily news (or a monthly magazine subscription), but feel like you never have enough time? As you read, take notes for future articles; what did you learn that other people might not know? Put a different spin on something you read to make it completely unique.

Take a class -- any kind. Are your classes taking away from your writing time? Think of them as an opportunity to prepare for writing articles, or to come up with topic ideas. Yoga will clear your mind and help you concentrate on your next big article. Or, connect what you've learned in your History class to something in the modern world. Teach us what you learn.

Clean the house. It needs to be done at some point. I like to clean and chip away at household chores when I am alone; I do a lot of thinking during this time. Come up new article ideas as you work, particularly cleaning tips that help you get things done more efficiently. What do you usually think about when you have this time to yourself? Write down notes on a whiteboard or a notepad if you come up with something you don't want to forget.

People-watch in public places. We have all waited in the mall or a parking lot for someone to finish shopping, or stood in line at the grocery store. What do you usually do while you wait? I typically observe what's going on around me. Don't be rude about it; simply observe how differently people behave than yourself, and listen to what they are saying. Take note of any article topic ideas as you watch and listen.

Review and expand upon older articles. Got writer's block? There's no need to stare at a blank computer screen; look up some of your old articles and put a unique twist on the topics. For example, write an opinion piece from another point of view, or narrow a general topic down. You might even be able to get a couple new stories out of one old article.

Re-read your old journals. Sometimes, when I have a little extra time, I like to look back into the past by reading one of my journals from when I was younger. What kind of problems did you have then? How did you solve them? Share what you now know with people who might be going through a similar experience.

More about writing:
Journaling is a Way to Generate Content Ideas
Writer's Block - the Key to Unlocking the Block
5 Great Content Ideas for Writing Articles