Monthly resource list: motivation tips
Staying focused this winter
It’s the time of year when it can be tricky to get going or be motivated to write up a long-gestating article. It’s cold, it’s dark and all you want to do is drink tea and eat biscuits whilst procrastinating on social media.
We know, we’ve been there. So just how do you find the motivation to get through the daily to do list? Emma and I swear by the Pomodoro method. It’s really straightforward to do. First turn off all notifications and close your email and social media pages. Then set a timer for 25 minutes and during that period concentrate on the one task you need to do and nothing else.
It’s amazing what you can get written up in 25 minutes of non-stop concentration. Then take a five minute break and use that time to get a cuppa, check socials or browse your emails. Then start the process again. Repeat this 4 or 5 times and then take a longer break. There is even a handy website with the correct timers on it.
We have also pooled together some more top tips on motivation below. If you would like to receive this in the original PDF document then please let us know (Substack won’t let us attach it).
Over the coming weeks we will also be sharing a new podcast episode on Chasing Payments and another round of successful pitches. If there is anything else you would like to see as a paid subscriber then please do let us know! Email us at freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com. But for now, here are those tips: