The holiday season is a great time for eating, drinking, and reuniting with friends and family, but it’s typically a terrible time for your writing. Plus there are all those favorite holiday movies that are so hard to peel away from! I started to get a little nervous when I realized my calendar is filled with fun and festive activities that leaves almost little room for me to finally finish my first draft. While it’s very easy to leave your writing for another New Year’s resolution (that you may or may not keep) your writing deserves more than that! Why not finish the year with a bang rather than an embarrassed whimper?

It’s definitely doable to keep your writing goals intact and stay motivated during the holiday season with these tips below.

Redefine your goals

Staying motivated to write during this busy time will mean managing expectations (which can also be said for the holiday season, but I digress). For example, initially I was aiming to finish a complete first draft by the end of the year, but thanks to my holiday commitments that probably isn’t doable.Instead of moping and devouring gingerbread cookies and cowering in shame, I’ve redefined my goal. Now I’m going to commit to five pages a week for the next month however that might come out. Maybe I write half a page a day, maybe I write all five on a quiet Sunday morning. If I write more than five, great. If not, that’s fine - I’m write on target (sorry). Being more realistic about what’s doable will keep your momentum going.  

Keep your boundaries

You’re already being flexible this holiday when it comes to your writing plans, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any boundaries when it comes to your time. Once you’ve defined your new writing goal for the season, stick to it. Learn to say no. Maybe that means not watching “Die Hard” for the fifth time (that’s okay, you’ve seen it four times already this month). Maybe that means you skip the family outing to your least favorite cousin’s house (which is probably an easy no). Define what boundaries will help you stick to your writing goals and be firm about them.

Work with the time you do have, not against it

Let’s be honest: leisurely writing for a couple hours at the local coffee house or blocking out an entire weekend to do a vomit draft isn’t going to work if you’re staying with family or traveling during the holidays. Instead of beating yourself up over the lack of time you have, work with the time you do have. For example, maybe you grab 30 minutes on the train or plane (or automobile) to write a sketch out a few scenes. Or maybe you get up a little earlier than usual at mom and dad’s to write for an hour. Be flexible and use your time wisely! You might be surprised at how much time you actually have and you’ll be more likely to write.  

Use your support system

If you’re going to be surrounded by friends and family at this time of year, your writing might as well benefit from their help. Let them know about your writing goals so they can help keep you accountable. That way if you’re slothing on the couch, procrastinating your draft, they can shut off the TV and get on your case about it. What better motivation to write than to keep your family from nagging you? Plus letting them know about your writing goals will also explain why you disappear from family activities and will surely save you from some headaches.

Don’t forget your self-care

It’s a busy time of year and a special one too! While it’s definitely commendable that you want to stay motivated and complete your writing goals during this hectic season, remember – you’re not a machine. Don’t forget to sleep well, eat healthy, and have fun. Your writing thrives when you do. So be easy on yourself over the holidays. When you take care of yourself, you’re in a better position to tackle that draft with gusto.

Here’s to hitting your writing goal, and riding that confidence high into the new year.