Choose Less, Write More

by Rochelle Melander

“Choose less and feel better.” -Barry Schwartz

Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s the challenge of being a freelancer. Maybe it’s modern life. I have too many choices. From what to wear to what to write, I am overwhelmed by possibilities. I often don’t know what to work on now or next. I don’t make progress on one thing because I’m thinking about all the things.

Many of my clients suffer from the same problem. How do they prioritize their work when they have work to do for other people? How do they write when they also have to work every day? How do they focus on one project when it might not sell? Isn’t it better to juggle multiple projects?

For the most part: no. According to research with manufacturing workers, your brain can handle five projects during a single period.

That doesn’t mean you can focus on more than one project at a sitting. The human brain is incapable of focusing on two things at one time. Even when you think you can, like media multitasking (watching a show while filling out a spreadsheet), you can’t.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your productivity is to do less. Focus on one project for a week or a month. When you finish it, move onto the next.

If you need to focus on multiple projects, schedule them into your week. For example, you might dedicate your morning writing time to your professional projects, such as blogging, while you set aside time on Saturdays to work on your novel.