5 Key Tips for Balancing Your Author and Personal Life

If you are planning on being an author, it is important that you know how to balance your author and personal life. Remember that being an author entails you to dedicate a lot of time writing books and other writing projects.

However, if you just spend all your time writing, you may end up neglecting your social life as well. Remember that even if you should focus on your writing sessions, you should also make sure to devote time to your family and friends. Here are tips for balancing your author and personal life.

1. Set a schedule for your writing sessions

If you want make sure that you balance your author and personal life, you should have a schedule for your writing sessions. By having a set schedule, you will at least be able to set aside a time of the day that you will focus on your writing.

During this time, you will be expected to just focus on your work. On the other hand, once you are finished with your writing sessions you will no longer be obligated to write. By doing so, you will be able to focus on other aspects of your day, without feeling guilty that you are not working on any writing project.

2. Give yourself a word count for each writing session

Following a set schedule for your writing sessions is a must, however, you should also make sure that you have a word count. This will allow you to do a great deal of work, and also work as a limit for your writing sessions.

For example, you may have a daily word count of 1000 words. You should strive to reach your chosen word count, however, when you do reach your word count, you should count it as the limit to your writing sessions and move on to other aspects of your life.

3. Make time for your family and friends

While you should focus on your writing sessions, it is also important that you make time for your family and friends. Your relationships with your loved ones are very important when it comes to balancing your author and personal life. If you don’t spend time with your family and friends, you may emotionally grow apart from them.

As a rule, you should make quality time with your family and friends a top priority. While you don’t need to spend all your time with them, you should at least make an effort to reach out to them, and keep tabs on what’s happening in their lives.

4. Learn to separate your work time from your free time

Being a writer, you will usually view your writing sessions as your work. The main setback with being a writer, is that you will usually bring your work home. If you don’t know how to set a boundary between your work life and personal life, then the two aspects of your life may get blurred.

This is a very disadvantageous set up because you may end up neglecting the people around you. You should know how to separate the two aspects of your life. Set boundaries for yourself. You could give your writing a set time limit.

You’re able to write for a specific amount of time, but once you reach your limit, you should stop writing. This will help you keep balance in your author and personal life.

5. Take time to do other hobbies

Aside from spending time with friends and family, it is also important that you take time to enjoy other pursuits. While you should invest time on your writing, your whole life should not just revolve around writing.

You should try to take up hobbies. You could try singing, drawing, or learn to play an instrument. You could also try more physical pursuits such as running, martial arts or weight training. Any hobby is good, just as long as you are able to get your mind off the writing process. Remember, you want to be a great writer, but that should not be your only identity.

Conclusion

While you should focus on being a great author, this does not mean that you should ignore certain aspects of your life. Remember that you still have family and friends. If you just write the whole day, you may end up ignoring them. With these tips, you’ll be able to balance your author and personal life.