How to write when your mind is scattered

It happens to everyone who writes:

Times when we can’t focus. When no matter how hard we try, are head stays filled with too many thoughts. Most of them not that useful.

It makes real thinking hard. It makes quality writing almost impossible.

Here are some great tips for getting through those inevitable times, from Publication Coach, at How to write when you’re feeling scatterbrained:

1. Breathe first, write second. Seriously. Breathe deeply for a full minute. It really helps calm and center you.
2. Shrink the task until it stops scaring you. Instead of trying to tackle an entire project, work on one piece of it. Win a small victory. Or make yourself write for 5 or 10 minutes.
3. Close the tabs. All of them. Your computer is a machine designed to distract you. Get rid of all the distractions.
4. Separate the writing from the editing. It’s okay if you write something terrible. You’ll fix it. That “terrible” phase is probably an important step you must go through. Don’t fight it. Dive in and write.
5. Move your body. Walk around the block. Stretch. Walk. Anything.
6. Lower the stakes on the quality. Just keep working. It’s okay if the work isn’t your best. You’ll fix it later!

The common thread through all of these (and really all advice on writing): Don’t beat yourself up. Just write. And take breaks. You’ll come back to your work later and slowly (or maybe even quickly) make it better.