We’ve been talking about the importance of writing habits. On the last couple of daily episodes, we’ve mentioned having a goal, as well as setting up a dedicated writing space for your writing.

Today, we’re diving into practice #3:

Build anchor rituals to develop your routine.

“Anchor rituals” are just what they sound like. They are anchors to help signal to your heart, mind, and body that it’s time to write. Anchor rituals can be very simple acts that help you stay grounded and locked into production mode.

Your rituals might be very different than your other friends who are also writers. That is OK. You don’t need to copy anybody else.

Just choose a couple of meaningful anchors that work for you. It might be rituals such as making coffee, playing specific music, or other things that are a signal to your brain that it’s time to write.

Stephen King said this:

There are certain things I do if I sit down to write. I have a glass of water or a cup of tea. There’s a certain time I sit down, from 8:00 to 8:30, somewhere within that half hour every morning. I have my vitamin pill and my music, sit in the same seat, and the papers are all arranged in the same places. 

The cumulative purpose of doing these things the same way every day seems to be a way of saying to the mind, you’re going to be dreaming soon. It’s not any different than a bedtime routine. Do you go to bed a different way every night?

Currently, I have two main anchor rituals: a music playlist, and two drinks, usually a diet soda with ice and a big container of water to keep me hydrated.

With the music playlist, I alternate between movie scores and a Lo-Fi Beats playlist, both on Spotify. I purposefully don’t listen to music with words because I find that distracting while I’m trying to write.

But again, I want emphasize: do what works for YOU. Experiment but don’t over-complicate it. When you have one or two meaningful anchor rituals, it will help signal to your heart and mind that it’s time to write, and the whole process will be easier.

Question: What are some anchor rituals you already use, or would like to use?