Reduce the friction of writing

The lower your barrier to getting started, the more writing you can fit into your day.

We’ve all experienced that resistance to sitting down and putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Even when you know you need to write, it can feel mentally draining to summon the willpower and concentration you need to start.

The key is to reduce the friction involved in those first steps as much as possible. This friction can be the difference between 10 minutes of focused writing time or choosing instead to browse social media.

Read: The key to writing regularly is to write small but often.

Creating a low-friction workspace that makes it easier to start writing can be as simple as having a piece of paper next to you. I use a plain text writing app that opens quickly, and has all of my writing projects in one place. In a few seconds, I can start capturing whatever thought has come to mind before the inspiration dissipates. The lower your barrier to capturing your thoughts, the more writing you’ll be able to fit into your day.

Read: Increase your writing output with distraction free text editors.

The goal is to make writing such a low-lift option that you don’t even have to think about it. Simply get your ideas out whenever you have a moment, before your brain registers the friction of “getting ready” to write. With a workspace optimised for reducing friction, the activation energy is so low that writing becomes an easy, reflexive habit that fits seamlessly into your workflow, rather than a chore to psych yourself up for. Over time, this low resistance can help cement a consistent writing practice and keep your productivity high.