How to Keep Your Writing Schedule and Have Fun on Your Vacation Getaway

The bags are packed. You have fresh outfits you can’t wait to wear. There’s a full list of restaurants and activities you’re dying to try. It’s time for a well-deserved vacation getaway.

And you also still have pages to write. You try to push it out of your mind and just assume you’ll make it work. 

I’ll write in the morning.

There will be so much free time. I’ll be able to write 3 new chapters at least.

It won’t be any different from my normal routine. I’ll make it work.

Then you get home with nothing new written, and it takes you a solid week to get back in the habit. You don’t have that to lose though, so what do you do?

Create a Vacation Writing Plan

Set Realistic Expectations

Vacation vibes are different from every day vibes. There’s a calm energy you have when you’re not in your regular routine, so you can get off-track quickly. You push your morning writing to the afternoon, but when your vacation pals suggest an early happy hour, you can’t say no. Or the morning you told yourself would be for writing is erased when you sleep in late because you didn’t get in until 2am. 

Before you leave, just know that your writing schedule will be different. Set your expectations around this, and you’ll immediately be ten steps ahead. 

Instead of writing 1,000 words or for an hour a day, what if you cut that in half? Try it for a day, and if you end up writing more — fantastic! The key is to give yourself some slack when you’re on the road. A little progress is better than nothing on the page.

Scout Writing Locations Beforehand

Environment is huge. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’ll write by the pool or be okay writing in your hotel room. 

Look up coffee shops, the hotel lounge and other on and off-site spots to work. The hotel may have a business center you could take advantage of. There may even be a co-working office within walking distance. 

Don’t leave this up to your feelings of the day. Even if it’s just an hour, choose the place you’re going to work, and when time’s up, move on to the next part of your adventure.

Make Your Plan Known

Don’t assume people will know your writing plan. You have to tell them you want to write every morning from 7:30-8am or that you need to write 500 words after lunch. If you’re traveling solo, add it to your calendar with reminders. 

This way, you’re being upfront about your priorities. Most people have regular parts of their routine they like to keep while on vacation, be it working out or 15 minutes of quiet time in the morning. Your writing schedule is just one of yours.

Give Yourself a Break

Use your allotted writing time and then relish your vacation time. Allow yourself some space to breathe and not obsess about the writing you’re not doing. Your brain and body need time to rest and recharge. New ideas will come when you’re least expecting them. 

Now, it’s time to enjoy your getaway.