Routines and Schedules
One of the most helpful and boring things that I have found keeps me writing is my schedules and routines. Last year threw a lot of that off for a variety of reasons. I started a new job in January and that meant a whole new routine to deal with as well as a new commute and a lot of learning.
Then well... March happened and everything changed again.
This is why my focus for 2021 is on rebuilding routine and structure into my life as much as I can. When some things are automatic, it frees up brain space. We've all had those days where you get home from a long day at work where you had to make a million decisions. You flop onto the couch, can't decide what to make for dinner so you order a pizza and watch movies. Suddenly it's 10:00 and time for bed. Your willpower is depleted and trying to force yourself to do more, doesn't really work at that point. You've exhausted that energy.
For my Dungeons and Dragons fans out there, it's like spell slots. You have enough energy to cast a certain number of spells before you need a rest. Schedules and routines act a bit like cantrips: they don't take a spell slot to cast.
One thing I have built into the routines of my life is that Monday is laundry day. It's become basically automatic at this point. I know that anything that needs to be washed will be dealt with on a Monday so I don't have to allot any amount of worry to 'when am I going to get all these clothes washed?' It frees a tiny amount of brain space from that thought. There's no decision to be made, it's already been made by past me.
By building in these little decisions already being decided, you can free a lot of brain space. Set up a similar breakfast every day, wear a 'work uniform' even if you don't have to, have a set time for eating or going to bed or writing. When these routines become automatic, those things get done with less resistance and less willpower drain.
Consider that schedules are really just a gift that past you is giving to future you, isn't that thoughtful of them?