I’m a fairly sociable, outgoing person, but I’ve always valued “me” time away from the crowds. In fact, I see it as essential to my personal and professional wellbeing.
And yet, in the UK, a stigma of loneliness and negativity around spending time alone persists.
When I told friends and family I was choosing a solo Christmas last year, not only was I greeted with concerned looks, but I was also inundated with well-meant but unnecessary invitations. Spending a peaceful day in my own company couldn’t possibly be what I truly wanted – could it?
Well, yes, actually.
I took a long walk in glorious winter sunshine, read my book, ate nice food, and enjoyed a time out from the constant noise of everyday life. In today’s fast-paced, technology-laden “always-on” culture, we’re routinely bombarded by people, social media posts, and so much more. My time alone on Christmas Day was a welcome and much-needed mind and body break from all of that.
And something interesting happened. After months of procrastinating over the creative activities I’ve always loved, something shook loose. The drawing, painting, and creative writing I’d been struggling with suddenly flowed freely. Not only that, but what I produced was good and I had fun.
The truth is that solitude can be a positive source of growth and creativity. At times, it may even be essential if you want to achieve your best.
As a copywriter who works remotely from home, I know that having peace and space is invaluable when it comes to creating excellent content. Here’s why.
5 ways spending time alone could help you write better content
If you’re a financial adviser or planner, content can play a powerful role in helping you stand out in a competitive market. It’s often the first impression potential clients and professional connections have of your firm.
Done well, content provides a great opportunity to showcase your business values, build trust, attract your target clients, gain referrals, and boost client retention.
However, when writing is rushed or written amid distractions, the quality may suffer and your content could become little more than filler for your website or newsletter.
Here are five ways solitude could help you produce engaging content that meets your clients’ and your business’s needs:
- Creates space for original thinking
With so many financial planning firms offering broadly similar services, it’s essential that your content highlights your unique expertise and positions you as a thought leader.
Time alone could help you tune out what everyone else is saying and focus on your own ideas. Think about highlighting overlooked issues, challenging common assumptions, and sharing insights from your personal experience.
- Supports better writing decisions
Writing is a series of decisions – what to include, what to leave out, and where to stop.
This requires concentration and a deep focus, which often come more easily when you take yourself away from distractions.
Sitting quietly with an idea before you write could help you fully understand and develop it so that you notice what’s important and produce content that truly adds value to your clients and prospects.
- Boosts productivity
It’s likely that your company produces a range of content across various platforms, such as newsletters, blogs, and social media posts. This probably equates to a considerable number of writing hours each week.
Giving yourself time and space to completely focus on the task at hand could boost your productivity and allow you to create more content in less time – without compromising quality.
- Allows time to reflect on business and client needs
How often do you have the chance to sit back and reflect on your business and your content strategy? It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day demands and churn out the same content time and again, just to get the job done.
Taking time out to think about what you want to achieve with your content and what your clients and prospects need from you could ensure that your writing is relevant, engaging, and meets your business goals.
- Boosts your creativity
According to the Grey Journal, studies in cognitive science suggest that solitude supports divergent thinking – the ability to generate multiple novel ideas – because it allows the brain to wander freely without social constraints.
What’s more, people who regularly schedule time alone for deep work feel satisfied and report a greater sense of creative fulfilment.
How to build alone time into your busy working day
I’m lucky to work for an employer that offers flexible and remote working. But I know not everyone has that luxury.
Whatever your work routine looks like, it is possible to build alone time into your day. Here are a few ideas:
- Go for a lunchtime walk – Give yourself some phone- and screen-free time away from the distractions of your work environment. This space could be all you need to trigger new content ideas or overcome the dreaded writer’s block.
- Write early in the morning – Schedule a regular early bird slot to write before others arrive at the office and emails begin flying into your inbox.
- Book a regular writing slot in your diary – Add a non-negotiable block of uninterrupted time to spend generating ideas and writing first drafts. Mark yourself as unavailable on Slack and in your work calendar. If you work in a busy office, it might help to book exclusive use of a meeting room.
Get in touch
If you’re struggling to find the time and space you need to create the high-quality content your clients and prospects want to read, we can help.
At Yardstick, we have a team of experienced writers who not only know the financial services profession inside out but also have the freedom to work remotely in the solitude of their home offices. In other words, we have the expertise and the space to create the first-class bespoke content you need.
Email hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or call 0115 8695 300 to find out more.
