Tired? Start Writing!

After a long day at the office, running errands around town and mentally preparing for tomorrow, the first thing I want to do is crash and go to sleep.

You too? Well, we’re both wrong.

This is when we should be writing. Not writing when you are tired means missing a golden opportunity for your writing project.

This doesn’t make sense. Let me explain.

When you’re tired, your brain is less alert. It’s harder to concentrate and keep a narrow focus on a specific task.

Sounds like a bad time to write.

But it’s the perfect time to write. You’re in a relaxed state when you’re tired. Your brain isn’t focused on the distractions around you. You’re not preoccupied with the worries that bother you during the day. Less attention to external distractions means more attention to internal thoughts.

That’s when your brain’s focus broadens. Without distractions, your brain makes connections to unconnected ideas.

That’s creativity.

I’m not saying write a perfect narrative when you’re tired. The truth is your ideas will still be raw when you write tired.

So how are we supposed to write when we’re tired?

This is when you should free-write. Word vomit your ideas onto the page as notes, sentences or even drawings. Don’t overthink your thoughts or your words. And don’t even bother editing right now.

If lifting your head up from the pillow is asking too much, there’s another way you can write. Give yourself a problem in your writing to solve. Keep a notebook and pen by your bedside so when that genius solution pops into your head, you can immediately jot it down on paper before your snooze.

Because forgetting that brilliant idea sucks.

Writing when you’re tired is about cranking those great ideas from your brain, about transforming fragments into complete thoughts worth reading.

You’ll be glad in the morning that you did.

Do you write when you’re tired? Share your experience below.