I hope you enjoyed an amazing Christmas Day.
Now it's time to focus on finding writing time. Dealing with family over Christmas takes up so much time. Doom-scrolling through endless work chores is another task. Attempting to afford a house in this economy is challenging. Trying to keep that sad-looking houseplant alive is yet another commitment. With all these tasks, who's got time to write their life story?
But here's the thing. You've probably spent longer watching someone's Instagram story about their breakfast. It takes less time to jot down a proper memory. (And let's face it, your story is definitely more interesting than their avocado toast.)
I learned this trick from my mate Sarah, who's somehow managing to write her memoir while raising twins. Her secret? She's let go of the "I need three uninterrupted hours in a quiet room" fantasy. She no longer believes she needs "perfect lighting and the exact right notebook."
Instead, she writes in the bits and bobs of time we all have but never think to use.
Waiting for the Northern line that's inevitably delayed? Write about your first job.
Sitting in a coffee shop while your phone charges? Describe your childhood bedroom.
Waiting for your partner to finally get ready to go out? Quick, write about how you met them. Perhaps avoid mentioning how long they take to get ready.
The beauty of this approach is that it matches how memory actually works.
Our brains don't deliver memories in perfectly structured chapters. Memories come in flashes, snippets, and random recollections. They are usually triggered by something as random as catching a whiff of your secondary school's cafeteria lunch.
Here's how to make it work:
Keep notes on your phone. No one needs to know you're writing profound memories - they'll just think you're liking posts on Facebook.
Voice notes work too. Talk about a memory while you're doing the washing up. Just remember to actually write it down later.
Use prompts that fit your schedule. Stuck on the motorway? Perfect time to remember your first car.
Watching your child's football match? Write about your own sports disasters.
Don't edit as you go. First thoughts, best thoughts.
You can sort out the grammar when you're not trying to order a coffee. At the same time, you avoid eye contact with that person you might have gone to uni with.
The point isn't to write perfect prose. It's to catch these memories before they fade away like last year's summer holiday tan. These five-minute snippets add up faster than your unread emails. Before you know it, you've got yourself a proper collection of memories.
Here's the thing. These quick-fire memories often end up being more authentic. They are more genuine than the ones we carefully craft in perfect conditions. Writing in the chaos of real life eliminates unnecessary details. It reaches the core of what we truly remember.
Think about it. Some of your best stories probably came from quick texts to your mates. Other great stories might have come from captions on photos. Why? Because you weren't overthinking it. You were just capturing the moment, unfiltered and real.
So next time you find yourself with a spare five minutes, take the opportunity to write something down. You might be waiting for your online shopping delivery. Or perhaps you're pretending to work while your computer updates. Future you will thank you for it.
And if anyone asks what you're doing, just tell them you're "documenting contemporary social history." It sounds much fancier, doesn't it? It's better than saying, "writing about that time I accidentally sent a screenshot of their message back to them."
