Comments on: How to Create an Un-Schedule and Why You Should

By: A Useful Tool For Managing Your Writing Time

A Useful Tool For Managing Your Writing Time — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:34:36 +0000

[...] Un-Schedule The un-schedule was created by psychologist, Neil Fiore, Ph.D. This is one of many tools in his arsenal for [...]

By: Why Karin Englund Purposely Procrastinates

Why Karin Englund Purposely Procrastinates — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:17:21 +0000

[...] I’ve crossed out time in my calendar I really consider it [...]

By: jblan

jblan — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:16:38 +0000

@Rhonda Levine You’re welcome! And thanks for sharing your ideas for making yourself productive. I’d love to hear more about how you track your time. I’d also love to learn more about this “time log.” Please share more with us if you have time!

By: Ronda Levine

Ronda Levine — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:47:05 +0000

Thanks for this. I resist scheduling not because of procrastinating but because the schedule creates a lot of anxiety when things don’t get done right when they are supposed to b/c life happens. Instead what I do is have routines and a reverse schedule. I think someone mentioned a time log. I track how much time I spend on different things. I’m always surprised at how productive it makes me – something about the having to be accountable for each moment I spend makes me want to get things done to put down on the time log…

By: ellen lindros

ellen lindros — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:30:50 +0000

Thank you for this terrific idea. I often find myself stressing out about making time for writing and not putting the time into updating my photography website. I am just getting started with my writing career and think this un-schedule will help me in many areas of my life.
-Ellen

By: jennifer blanchard

jennifer blanchard — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:06:02 +0000

@anna One of my main writing philosophies is that every writer should do what works for them. Procrastinating Writers is an outlet for you to find what does work for you and then keep it working over and over again. Thanks for reading!

By: anna

anna — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:49:49 +0000

I don’t think this kind of un-schedule would work for me (also because I’ve only just finished a degree and don’t have such regular habits!).

I could see why it might be helpful to someone: when I used to write up long to-do lists I’d often find them overwhelming and end up cleaning the house instead.

What I do now is draw up an actual schedule, looking at days instead of hours. I draw a calender of a month and set up (realistic) writing deadlines. The induced pressure makes me find the time to finish things off!

By: CoachMarla

CoachMarla — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:55:39 +0000

@Jen, Great topic! Fiore’s anti-procrastination strategies have worked for me for years and now I often help life-coaching clients to implement Fiore’s methods in their own lives to free up more time to write. It’s true: calendaring time as he suggests can really help make time for writing more visible!

@Laura Lee, I resisted trying this tool out myself when I first started, too. It’s really off-putting, I know. But if you’re up for it, one idea you can try is create a time log for yourself for 3 days…no more, no less. Just give yourself a chance to gather some info about the way you use your time.

@Jen, I’d have to say that without making some of the attitude shifts Fiore recommends (putting boundaries around our work; prioritizing “life balance” stuff as equally as we do work/writing, for example), his Unschedule isn’t at all as powerful as it could be. If folks are at all curious or interested in Fiore’s ideas, don’t cheat yourself: get a copy of his book and try out his entire methodology.

Thanks for the read & look forward to more,
Coach Marla
Life Coach for Writers | @MarlaBeck

p.s. – DIY Planner has a free “Unschedule” template. You can find it here:
http://www.diyplanner.com/node/4526

By: Sandra S Richardson

Sandra S Richardson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:39:15 +0000

I have a lot of time to write mostly because I’m a homemaker with grown children. I’ve drawn one of these up and I’ll see if it helps, because as much time as I have I’m still good at wasting it. Most likely, I’m worse about wasting it because I have so much available.

By: jennifer blanchard

jennifer blanchard — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:15:49 +0000

@Laura Lee Bloor I had the same initial feeling. Until I did a spreadsheet for myself and found out just how many hours I was fretting away doing stuff that was unneccessary, like watching TV and surfing the Web. You should give it a try anyhow. You may end up as surprised as I was.

As always, not every tool, tip or technique offered on this blog will work for everyone. That’s why I recommend giving things a try, but sticking with what works for you.