Writing Through Chaos: How to Stay Focused When Life Isn’t
When life is messy, your writing may feel impossible. Here’s how to stay on track.
Some days, the hardest part of writing isn’t finding the right words but finding any words at all, with everything else going on in your head. Stress, distractions, bad news, personal drama… when life gets chaotic, writing often takes a hit.
But here’s the thing: Writing doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. If you only write when life is calm, you won’t write much at all.
A Quick Trick for Staying Focused
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sat down to write, only to find my brain hijacked by something completely unrelated. It happens more often than not. A stressful email. A nagging to-do list. A random conversation replaying in my head.
Or, you know… the existential threats of a rambling geriatric despot and his bootlicking enablers.
Anyway, if I don’t deal with it, I’ll sit there pretending to write while my mind is elsewhere, which means I’m really not getting much done at all.
So here’s what helps: I give myself 15 minutes to write it all out. Whatever is swirling around in my brain, I dump it onto the page. Sometimes it turns into a journal entry. Sometimes it’s a rant in my notes app. And, I’ll admit, sometimes it’s a social media post… but when that happens, I have to force myself to post it and leave it. No doomscrolling, no checking for reactions. Just get it out and move on.
Why This Works
It frees up mental space. Those distractions lose their grip once they’re on the page.
It stops the cycle of overthinking. Instead of letting thoughts swirl endlessly, you acknowledge them and move forward.
It helps you write more fluidly. With the clutter out of the way, your words come easier.
Your Challenge:
Before you dive into writing today, take 15 minutes to clear your mind. Set a timer. Dump all the distractions onto the page. Then, get to work.
Writing through chaos is hard. But trust me, you’ll write better once your mind is clear.
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