Why great writing starts with tempering your expectations

 To be able to write, and to improve your life, you must learn to manage your expectations. It’s that simple. Why? Because managing your expectations will make you happier.

Happiness expert Shawn Achor makes this case convincingly in his bestselling book The Happiness Advantage. (And if you don’t have time to read his book, take 12 minutes to watch his exceptionally funny TED talk on the subject.)

Managing your expectations better will allow you to become happier. And that, in turn, will improve both your writing and your life. Here’s how to make that magic happen:

Start by blocking your time, every day.

I had heard advice about time blocking for more than a decade and always discounted it, figuring that my crazy schedule — filled with meetings and phone calls — would never allow me to be so organized. Silly me. Time blocking works like a charm.