Melissa Harkin

You rub the sleep from your eyes, glancing at the clock as the world outside barely stirs. This stolen moment before your nine-to-five might feel small, but for a writer with a busy job, it’s everything. A regular writing routine is the guardrail that protects your creativity from daily chaos. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike at random, you set a clear time and space to nurture ideas—no matter how hectic your life becomes. That structure ensures your passion doesn’t wither under the pressure of deadlines and responsibilities, keeping your work-in-progress alive and your storytelling voice strong.

What my day is like

The alarm buzzes at 5:00 a.m., cutting through the peaceful hush of dawn. I slide out of bed, shuffle to the kitchen, and brew my first cup of coffee. In these predawn moments, I feel a tiny thrill—this is my time to write, free from daytime demands.

The early morning writing routine

By 5:15 a.m., I’m in front of my laptop. No scrolling through social media, no distracting alerts. I set a timer for short bursts—25 or 30 minutes—and let the words flow. No matter how many errands or tasks wait for me later, the next two hours belong to my creativity. When I catch myself drifting off into daydreams, the timer snaps me back to focus, reminding me every second counts.

The bus stop dash

At 8:25 a.m., I walk my child to the bus stop. The bus stop is just two minutes away, but I leave a little earlier so we’re not rushing. That short walk is a simple but meaningful routine—our chance to chat about hopes for the day or share a silly joke. Watching the bus roll away, I feel a small pang of pride and wistfulness, then head back to start my workday.

Balancing a full-time job

From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., I focus on my job. It’s a standard eight-hour shift, but I have the flexibility to fit these hours between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. I break for lunch around 12:30 p.m., giving myself 30 minutes to refuel. Sometimes I squeeze in a short walk or a quick personal errand, but mostly I keep it simple. By 1:00 p.m., I’m back at it until 5:00 p.m.

Family and evening wind-down

Once my workday wraps, the house needs attention—dinner prep is my husband’s business, so I may be found doing laundry, tidying up, maybe a homework check or even assignments from my master’s program. I set aside 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a family meal and to reconnect after our busy day. We might talk about weekend plans, watch a movie or series together, or just enjoy some quiet company.

By 9:30 p.m., I’m winding down. I glance over the next day’s to-do list, set out tomorrow’s outfit for everyone, and tuck away anything that will save me time in the morning. Then it’s lights out at 10:00 p.m.—I aim for six to seven hours of rest so I can greet 5:00 a.m. with a clear head.

Why this schedule works

• Protected writing time: Mornings are when my mind feels crisp. Blocking out two hours before life’s demands pick up ensures I meet my daily writing goal.
• Clear work boundaries: Defining an eight-hour window keeps me on track without encroaching on family or writing time.
• Intentional sleep habits: Making bedtime nonnegotiable helps me wake up ready for a fresh start.

This routine isn’t perfect or unbreakable. Some days call for an earlier or later shift or even an extra hour of sleep. So, occasionally, that two-hour writing window becomes an hour. Still, establishing a stable outline keeps me focused, ensuring I fulfill my roles as a parent, employee, and writer. Each time the alarm goes off, I remember that before the world wakes, I have a golden opportunity to turn thoughts into words—and that’s worth getting out of bed for.