There was an article I saw while scrolling through my Facebook feed about how one does not have to be productive during the pandemic. While I do understand keeping busy isn’t everyone’s thing, especially during these trying times, it turns out it is my thing.
I’m one of those people who can’t be still. I mean, I can meditate but not for long. My meditation is doing something creative or reading. And watching Kdrama.
Always with the watching of the KDrama.
So, during the pandemic, I made the most of my indoor time and channeled my energy into all the things I loved. Here’s how I did it.
I divided my time
Day time was day job time. Although I answered personal emails during my breaks, I was super focused on doing my job between the hours of nine to five. Like everyone else, I didn’t want to lose my job. I’ve been luckier than most people and I wanted to make sure I get to keep a day job that I love.
It was a big help setting different times for my day job and my writing life because it allowed my brain to focus on the task in front of me. My head wasn’t all jumbled inside. I didn’t want to be thinking about my writing projects while I was trying to meet a deadline.
The time division thing didn’t only work for my jobs. It also included my hobbies (KDrama) and relaxation time (Gong Yoo). My sisters had to stay home for the lockdown, too, and they were trying to get me addicted to Goblin and KDrama. Needless to say, they won.
I created a great workspace
At the start of the lockdown, hubby and I decided to create specific workspaces for all three of us. His is near the kitchen, mine is near the dining room and our daughter’s is in her bedroom.
But what really helped me be even more productive was my set up. I took out hubby’s old wireless keyboard, invested in a bigger screen (because I realised I do need a bigger screen even with the help of reading glasses) and freed my work area from clutter.
When I’m on my desk, it tells my brain it’s time to work. I don’t play, I don’t get distracted. I do the work. If I need a break, I take a break. But I always leave my desk when it’s break time. Working from home meant I needed to have a clear line of where work should be so that my entire house isn’t a work area.
I found Gong Yoo as a motivation
Honestly, I didn’t need a carrot or stick for this project. I really wanted to write it. It just all came out of me – it was a very different process from previous projects. It did help that I set aside some time to plot the chapters. I organised everything, including my target words per chapter and my target words for the whole book.
When I started writing the book, the flow was easier because I already had an idea what was happening with each chapter. But I still gave myself a carrot anyway – you know, just for fun.
So, what was it? Every night, after I finished writing two thousand words, I treated myself to an episode of the popular KDrama, Goblin.
Yes, Gong Yoo was my carrot. And what a delicious carrot indeed. I had to finish my target first before I allowed myself to watch an episode.
Without intending to do so, I finished the book in two weeks – give and take a day or so. Not as intense as I thought it was going to be. Not like when I did Nanowrimo a couple of years ago.
Maybe it was the lockdown. Maybe it was the story I was writing. Or maybe it was just Gong Yoo.
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