Writing Through The Noise in My Head

The power of focus time and the right mindset

Photo by Elyas Pasban on Unsplash

Writing isn’t a passive act.

I love to write about educational issues based on my 30 years of experience teaching. But it takes sustained attention, mental clarity, and emotional presence. When I write in fragmented bursts, between emails, errands, or doom scrolling, I know that I’m robbing myself of the depth and flow that I need to write well.

I’m one of those people who are easily distracted from writing. It’s so easy for me to get distracted by what’s happening around me, or by thoughts that pop into my head when I’m trying to write.

I need to give my writing intention, structure, and protected focus time. But that’s so hard to do.

I love writing about education issues and my experience of those and I get frustrated when I can’t get my thoughts written down in a coherent way. I’ve been writing about educational topics that are important to me for over nine months now and I’ve had time to explore what works for me.

Here’s what I’ve discovered.

Why focus time matters more than I thought

One of the first things I found out was that studies show that switching tasks frequently when writing, also known as multitasking, can reduce my productivity by as much as 40%.

That’s huge, given that the time I have to write is limited. Each time I move my focus onto something else, my brain takes time to sort itself out, which means I lose precious minutes and writing momentum.

Without boundaries, writing becomes a frustrating cycle of false starts and unfinished drafts. So I created my own focus time.

My ritual of focus time

Creating a ritual around writing time helps signal to my brain: “This is when I create.” It’s not just about blocking off hours, it’s about designing an environment and mindset that supports how I work.

I have a space in my house that I use for writing. It’s a desk in a corner of my spare bedroom. But I was easily distracted by messages on my phone, and I’d often find myself reorganising the furniture in the room, and thinking about how it could be redecorated instead of getting on with writing.

So a few months ago, I decided to treat writing like an important appointment. I bought some noise-cancelling headphones, set a 90-minute timer, and told my partner not to disturb me unless there was an emergency that had to be sorted. Then I lit a candle to mark the start of my writing session. When I had finished writing, I made sure that I had put it out.

Within weeks, I found that I could write more, and I wasn’t so stressed about wasting time getting distracted.

Strategies to stay sharp and focused

Here are some of the other strategies that worked for me to keep my writing aligned with my goals.

1.Setting aside blocks of time to write

I decided on blocks of time I would use for writing, then I stuck with them. I chose times when my energy was highest, for me, that’s usually mid-morning after a cup of tea and a good breakfast.

I started with short blocks of time, between 30 and 45 minutes then built that up to 1 hour slowly. I love using the Pomodoro Technique, 25 minutes of writing, with a 5-minute break to stay fresh. That’s a technique I’ve taught to the students I teach maths to when I’m advising them how to organise their revision.

2. Using writing prompts and outlines

When my mind wandered off thinking about something else, I set up a structure to keep me focused. So I started with a clear outline or a prompt that linked back to my goal. This kept me focused for around 30 to 40 minutes and stopped me going off track.

3. Setting micro-goals

I knew that it was impossible for me to finish a post of around 1000 words in 30 minutes. So I set micro-goals which would move me towards that target. So instead of aiming to write a post with ideas for teachers to achieve a good work-life balance, I aimed to write 300 words on a part of that post.

I found that specific, achievable goals reduced overwhelm and increased my motivation.

I also started a writing journal to track my progress and to celebrate small wins. The biggest challenge with this was writing in it every day. I’m trying to celebrate small wins and record them as they happen as well. It’s all still a work in progress.

4.Embracing the first draft mentality

I know that perfectionism is a sneaky form of distraction, but I still find myself doing it sometimes. I try hard not to edit while I’m writing the first draft of a post. I’m better at letting it be messy and then polishing it off later. I keep focused on getting the words down.

5. Using accountability tools

I like to share my goals with a friend, and I have a writing buddy to help keep me on track. Thank you, Brianna for your support and great advice. In the past I’ve joined a writing group, and I’ve used apps like Habitica and notion to help keep me moving in the right direction with some success. For me, the problem is remembering to use them regularly. Knowing someone else is watching can boost commitment.

Keeping my writing aligned with my goals

Focus time is only effective if it moves me towards my writing goals. So I ask myself the following questions regularly.

• What am I trying to say?

• Who am I writing for?

• What impact do I want this post to have?

And I look a these questions before I start to write. They act as a compass, guiding my tone, structure, and content.

The role of mindset and self-compassion

I’ve come to view my distractions as a trait that I’m unlikely to ever get rid of. Now I try to redirect my attention back to the writing task I’m working on. I try not to tell myself off for not achieving a writing goal in the time I’ve set.

So if I find myself scrolling or daydreaming, I pause. I take a breath and ask myself “What do I need right now to return to my writing?” Sometimes it’s a glass of water. Sometimes it’s a walk. Sometimes it’s just permission to begin again.

Sometimes I’ll write down what that distracting thought is so that when I’ve finished my writing task I can go back to it if I choose to.

For me, writing well isn’t about eliminating all the distractions around me. It’s about creating intentional space for my words to unfold. With focus time, structure, and self-awareness, I can produce work that achieves my writing goals.