by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan
When my boys were younger, a friend introduced me to FlyLady, whose organizational practices helped me learn how to manage my household. With time, practice and strategies in place, I was able to juggle my family, my business, and other responsibilities without stressing out (too much).
When we are trying to balance family, work, life and writing, it can be a juggling act. Many times, we watch others handle their responsibilities with grace and feel we’re all alone.
But you’re not.
The key to my household and business management was getting organized. The same went for my writing. Once I was contracted and needed to meet deadlines, I had to focus to get the work done. At that time, I was keeping track of two demanding careers, managing my family, maintaining church responsibilities and finding time for essential self-care.
One of the best ways for me to have that necessary focus was to designate a writing space in my house. A spot where I could have my writing books and tools in easy reach away from little fingers. For years, this space was a desk and bookcase in my bedroom. Then my hubby and son moved my desk to the open closet in the playroom. Now that playroom has been transformed into my office. Despite having enough space to spread out if need be, I still prefer to write on my laptop while sitting in my favorite living room chair.
Where can you create a writing space?
Take a look at the layout of your home. Maybe you’re fortunate to have a spare room you can turn into an office. If not, see if you can find a space in the living room, family room or even your bedroom. All you’d need is a desk and a bookcase or even a cozy chair and a side table. You simply need some place to store your reference books and when you go to your writing space, you can prepare yourself mentally for designated writing time.
Once you have a designed space, review your monthly calendar. Mark doctor/dentist/vision appointments, school functions, work meetings, church activities and block off family time and date nights. Then, over the next few days, keep a time journal—write down everything you do from the moment your feet hit the floor to when you crash into bed for the night.
The purpose of this is to see where you can find pockets of time to write. Then pencil in your writing times. Consider getting up an hour early, writing during your lunch break or children’s nap times or while waiting in the carpool lanes. Delegate household responsibilities to family members to free up more writing time.
Finding the time to write may be a challenge at first, but once you express your desires and get your family onboard, you may be able to claim more time than you expected. Then you need to discipline yourself to use the allotted time to work on your current WIP.
When you’re working, caring for your family and managing your other responsibilities, finding that writing time can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. After all, your dream is worth the effort.
A determined dad. A wary mother.
Making amends is never easy…
Injured in a kayaking accident, champion Evan Holland returns home to train rescue dogs. But his unexpected partner is the woman he left behind, Natalie Bishop. And she has a secret: a son Evan never knew he had. Now Evan must prove he can be a real father. But earning Natalie’s trust back will take hope, forgiveness—and risking everything on forever…
Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Cynthia Ruchti of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, The Father He Deserves, releases in July 2021. She is the content manager for Novel Academy, powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for over thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys quality family time and being creative with words, photos, fibers, and papers. Learn more about her at lisajordanbooks.com.