Finding time to sit down and write can be hard. There are always other things to be done—washing, cooking, work projects, that next episode of Ginny and Georgia to watch. I get it. I'm a single mum of four kids who require a lot of my time and attention, but writing must be prioritized in my daily routine, just like housework or exercising.

But how do you create a writing habit?

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear writes:

“A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough times to become automatic.”
“One of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called habit stacking.”

My Writing Habit (By Habit Stacking)

I habit-stack my writing in my morning routine this way:

• Wake up

• Meditate

• Journal

• Drink a protein shake and take my vitamins

• Get the kids ready for school

• Dress in my walking clothes

• Walk the kids to school

• Get home, shower

• Make coffee

• Drink coffee in front of the computer while I write

Obviously, this routine won’t work for everyone—and the weeks I don’t have my kids changes it slightly. But I aim to write every day, because consistency keeps me in flow. If I miss a day, I just try to get back on track quickly, without guilt.

Discover Your Most Productive Writing Time

Not everyone is a morning writer. You might do your best creative work late at night, or during your lunch break, or even in the car waiting for school pickup. To find out your most productive time, try this:

1. Track your energy for a week: Set hourly alarms or use a simple note-taking app to jot down when you feel alert, sluggish, focused, or distracted.

2. Experiment: Try writing at different times over a week—morning, midday, evening—and rate how productive or creative you felt after each session.

3. Notice patterns: Are you energized after exercise? Do you feel clear-headed after a walk or a shower? Does coffee help you focus or make you jittery?

Once you notice when you feel your sharpest mentally, protect that time. Even if it’s just 20 minutes, claim it for your writing.

Finding Time to Write (Even If You’re Drowning in To-Dos)

Still struggling to find space in your day? Here are some practical tips:

• Combine writing with downtime: Waiting at ballet class or soccer practice? Take a notebook. Use that awkward 20-minute lull after dinner.

• Wake up 20 minutes earlier: You don’t have to become a 5am clubber. Just a little extra morning space can go a long way.

• Limit distractions: Set a timer, put your phone on airplane mode, and give yourself permission to focus.

• Say no more often: Protecting your writing time sometimes means declining other commitments. It’s okay to prioritize your creativity.

• Keep it small: Aim for 10 minutes or 200 words. A little every day builds real momentum.

Not Feeling Inspired?

Sit down and write something. Anything. The amount of time you’ve been performing a habit is less important than the number of times you do it. Words, even bad ones, are better than none.

Get Accountability

Stay on track with an accountability partner. We care deeply about what others think of us, and we don't want to let someone down. Team up with a writing buddy, join a Facebook group, or even post your daily word count on social media. Motivation multiplies when it’s shared.

Where you are is a result of who you were, but where you go depends entirely on who you choose to be, from this moment on.

Today is the best day to start writing.

"Always remember that who you’re becoming is far more important than what you’re doing, and yet it is what you’re doing that is determining who you’re becoming."
— The Miracle morning

So I’ll leave you with this:

Can you create a writing habit for yourself this week?

Keep creating,

Sarah 🩷