Optimal Working Hours For Writing

You can stare at a computer screen for hours or you can find out that optimal time for your body where your fingers can work as if driven by an unseen force, writing easily for you. This is my own finding, and I hope it helps you become a more efficient writer.

It all started out with a serious life-threatening illness. That was many years ago. In the pursuit of staying alive, and then looking for better health, I discovered that I had to make many lifestyle changes. Along the way, two major influences happened to help me re-think how to be healthier. And I will tell you in a minute how this is connected to my writing and optimal writing ability.

For improving my health, I read a great deal of alternative wellness books, and I immersed myself in a culture of successful people who were able to almost effortlessly achieve their goals and dreams.

One book that I read was "Reverse Therapy" by Dr John Eaton. Basically the premise on how it works is as follows. Traditionally, when someone has a chronic or debilitating illness, they are encouraged to carry on regardless and face life anyway, force themselves to keep going, and "be strong", whatever that is supposed to really mean. The reverse of that is learning to listen to your body. When it wants to rest, totally exhausted, you give it rest. When it starts to panic about the thought of a work task or social engagement, you listen, respect your body, and you do not soldier on and partake in that activity. In short, it is the reverse of always doing things the way you are expected to. It is learning how to do things in tune with the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) hints from your body. Reverse Therapy helped me to identify optimal times during my day where I could carry out particular tasks with relative ease. Including writing.

The second help along the way for me was from one of my graduates of alternative and complementary therapy, which I teach. She said that we should not be rigid in our business plans but leave some room for the Universe to lead us to opportunity, recognizing that opportunity when it comes, and going along with it. At first, I did not believe her. Then an opportunity came in the form of two serious changes in my industry, which meant that I had to choose between paying unfairly massive amounts of money to organisations that did not merit it, just for the privilege of carrying on doing what I was so good at, or reinventing myself. I took it as a sign from God/The Universe that it was time to reinvent myself. So I decided to become a semi-professional athlete and market my services by writing and recording videos about how I was walking the talk. It worked. And it led to many articles and much writing that to this day, earns me part of my income.

You too can experiment and find your optimal writing time. For me personally, I have found that it is soon upon awakening. The words just flow. This led to some criticism from some who just did not understand why I "worked so hard so early in the morning". However, That is not the case. I get breaks and even power naps later in the day. And of course, my beloved sports, for which I still get paid. These very same critics pay to go to the gym. I get paid to do it. Same as for writing. I know people that are still struggling to get a book published or sold. I sold my first article by just being myself and writing a passionate article in reply to another, skewed one, in a magazine. In return, I got a surprise cheque in the post from the magazine, who published my article (yes, that was that long ago now; a cheque is a weird concept today). And so I became a professional writer. Effortlessly.

Let your body and circumstances lead you to opportunity. You too may be pleasantly surprised.

© Suzanne Zacharia 2017, passionately spreading the healing news for health, happiness, and success. Want to use this article? You can, as long as you credit me with it and invite your readers to get my FREE online course "5 Days To Change Your Life" at