Do you ever feel interrupted, when you receive a text, e-mail, or a notification? As a writer, there is nothing more frustrating than losing your train of thought, due to someone else’s interruption about something else. In fact, it can be a great stressor, to always have to take consideration of others and reply to their needs, while neglecting your own. To curb this, I’ve found two things that helps, when planning your days:

Turn off all notifications: No comments, likes, replies, suggestions or new followers, are more important than your own time and life. Whether you’re studying, working or sleeping, practicing, socialising or creating something of your own, you must prioritize this. Our lives are not online, they’re physical manifestations that we sometimes share snippets about online. Notice how you feel, when you live uninterrupted. The topic you’re discussing will be there tomorrow too. Instead, designate time slots to be online.

Keep your planned order: Regardless of the time of day, another thing you can do to eliminate stress and better manage your energy, is to decide in which order you’re going to do things and then do that. I like to have breakfast before reading my e-mails, so I can feel grounded and awake, when I’m on the receiving end of others’ communication, as well as my own. When we let our clock-time dictate our lives, we can feel more stressed. Letting it guide us, is of course important, but not more than getting things done. Another thing to be aware of, is to book your own appointments, rather than always accepting, when others think you should come.

By making active choices, you can better take charge of your time. It’s your most precious asset!