A Productivity Tip from Ernest Hemingway
What comes to mind when you hear the name Ernest Hemingway? For me, it’s my 10th-grade literature class, where we were required to read The Old Man and the Sea. Maybe The Sun Also Rises or A Farewell to Arms comes to your mind.
Recently, something about Hemingway caught my attention that had nothing to do with the content of his books. It’s a productivity tip called the Hemingway Bridge. The story goes that Hemingway would stop writing for the day even when he knew exactly what the next line or scene would be. Instead of pushing on until he was exhausted or out of ideas, he would jot down what came next and return to it the following day, feeling fresh and with momentum.
Why the Hemingway Bridge Works
There are three key benefits to working this way:
It reduces friction – There’s less resistance to getting started because you’re creating momentum from one day to the next. Your day begins already in motion instead of from a cold start.
It avoids burnout – Instead of working until everything grinds to a halt, you stop while things are going well. This preserves your energy and enthusiasm for the work.
It pulls you into the next day – Some days are harder to begin than others. But if you know you have a clear, ready-to-go next step, it becomes much easier to dive in the following morning.
Applying the Hemingway Bridge at Work
How can the Hemingway Bridge show up in your workday? A few examples:
Gather all the files and data you need – If tomorrow’s task is to analyze information and make a recommendation, spend the last 10–15 minutes of today pulling all the reports, spreadsheets, and emails you’ll need. That way, tomorrow you can go straight into analysis.
Create a quick outline for a presentation or email– If you have an upcoming presentation, end your day by sketching a high-level outline of the story you want to tell. The next morning, you can immediately start translating that into slides. Or, maybe you need to craft the perfect email in the morning. Put the bullet points together today and finish the email in the morning.
Leave a note for your future self – When you’re “in the zone” but it’s getting late, write a short note on what to do next. It could be the first step, the next question to answer, or the specific problem you were about to tackle.
While you may not be working on a classic like Hemingway, using the Hemingway Bridge is a simple way to make sure each day doesn’t start on a blank page. You’ve already started the next chapter and now you just need to finish it!
