Making Time for Prep
I read far too many articles offering guidance on how to reduce the amount of time spent prepping for ttrpgs. Ridiculous!! If you are anything like me, you can never have enough time for game prep as a GM / DM. To those Game Masters who advocate for economizing your prep time, I say: "fie on thee!"
I've never rigorously measured the time I spent prepping against the quality of the resulting session, but in my heart of hearts I feel (no, I KNOW) that every additional hour of time spent prepping for games has an exponentially positive effect on the result. A study on the topic would be time wasted, as the results are self evident.
If you are like me, a True Believer in the power of endless game prep, then heed my words: I present to you advice on trimming down the other aspects of your life to make more room for beautiful, delicious game prep.
School and Work
This is an obvious candidate for most people. The majority of people are engaged in one of these pursuits through much of their lives. Half of a person's waking hours diverted towards trivial nonsense! Inexcusable. We must find ways to reclaim this time for precious prep.
Keep a notebook handy and fill the first few pages with notes relevant to your work or schooling, and leave the rest for writing your game notes. If your boss or teacher should wander past, flip to the dummy notes at the start of the notebook and make as though you were cross referencing something there, hiding the elaborate dungeon map you had been working on a moment before.
If you work in a white collar environment, try booking a meeting room for "focus time."
If you know other students who run ttrpg games, arrange a "study group" of like-minded devotees under the pretense of scholastic betterment. With a little coaxing you can divert everyone's attention to discussing your game.
In blue collar jobs, consider claiming falsely that the equipment doesn't work (or even purposefully sabotaging equipment) to slow down productions and free up time to bust out the pencil and paper.
A truly dedicated storyteller may even choose to purposely let their performance slip to the point of dismissal. This may seem extreme, but consider the benefits to your creative schedule!
Sleep
Most medical advice suggests that adults should aim to get eight hours of sleep per day. I am living proof that humans can survive (even thrive) on far less, particularly if that reclaimed time is spent drawing up elaborate faction charts. The best creative work is often done after dark, and the quality is magnified by the punch-drunk character of a sleep-deprived brain.
Even when your eyes begin to droop and your betraying flesh forces you to lie down, many hours of prep can be accomplished simply lying still with your eyes closed. It's a great time to loudly practice funny voices and dramatic one-liners.
You may also consider developing the ability to lucid dream so you can spend your dreaming hours coming up with treasure tables and magic items.
Family
We have been conditioned by society to value family. Enough of this Torretonian blather!! My mother may have brought me into this world, but if not for the purpose of wearing my pencils to stubs on expository text, then for what? Ignore the phone calls and Facebook messages. You have more important work to do.
Having children of your own can be a mixed blessing. The first few years of their life they are simply a drain on time and attention, contributing nothing to the creative process. As teenagers they often have no use for their parents beyond resource extraction. Between six and ten they metamorphosize into imagination powerhouses which can be tapped for creative potential. But do the benefits of this short window outweigh the costs? I have my doubts.
Chores and Hygiene
Skip the shower. Wear the same shirt again tomorrow (and the next day). Our ancestors didn't eat off of clean plates every meal! Eschew the habits of the catatonic masses and devote yourself fully to the prep.
Running Games
This may be controversial, but hear me out: consider ceasing the running of games at all. Many people run weekly games. That's two to four hours of time every week that could be spent prepping for games. Sure, some may say that running games is the end goal of prep, but again I must scoff. The reality is that more prep results in better games. A measly week of prep between sessions produces pitiable, undercooked performances. Some legacy!
Much better, then, to prepare as much as possible and run games once a month. Perhaps once a year. Better yet: imagine the caliber of the session built on an entire lifetime of preparation.
Conclusion
Do you hear that sound? The cold whisper of a blank notebook page shivering in the wind, yet unadorned in Prep. Lay down your tools, cast off your shackles, and abandon all other things. Commit yourself to The Prep!