As writers, we often neglect to take care of ourselves. Family, work and other priorities quickly take over our lives and can overshadow the need for self-care.
If you add a disciplined writing schedule to the mix, it won’t be long before you find yourself craving extra time so you can relax, regroup, and refocus—because writing is work.
You already know about the many benefits of writing. It helps process life; find solutions to problems; empty your mind; vent frustrations; find and network with other writers. But to produce your best writing, you must first take care of your mental and physical health.
Here are a few ways to incorporate self-care into your writing life:
Celebrate your wins
Let’s say you look back over the past year and discover that you wrote an average of 1,000 words per day, but you somewhere along the way, your average daily word count shot up to 1,500 words. That’s worth celebrating.
Which recent goals (in the past month or year) made you feel that writing wasn’t a waste of your time? Take a moment now to think of all the strides you’ve made as a writer. Make a list of every milestone that you hadn’t previously acknowledged.
Celebrating wins regularly, no matter how seemingly small, can boost your confidence and self-esteem. But don’t get bogged down by technicalities; the simplest achievements can fuel you to do more.
Be kind to yourself
Now, let’s flip the previous tip. Did you miss a goal last month or procrastinate on something you’ve been meaning to tackle for a while? Don’t sweat it. There’s already too much negativity in this world—beating yourself up will only add more crap to the pile. Truth is, writing is a lonely business, so you might as well learn to become your best advocate and biggest fan as soon as you can.
- Don’t compare yourself to other writers.
- Get enough sleep.
- Say no when you have to—and don’t feel guilty when you do.
- Breathe.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff.
- Be kind to others.
- Each chocolate. Or cake. Or both (in moderation).
You’ll need to encourage yourself from time to time and boost your own spirit. Not everyone will understand your dream or want to be your cheerleader, so it’s important to maintain a kind and forgiving relationship with yourself.
If you’ve fallen short and want to do better, start by giving yourself a break; forgive yourself and make a plan to do things differently and move forward.
Block off the time you need
I have a friend who waits until she’s about to blow up or have a breakdown before she takes a vacation. We’ve had the same conversation many times; I tell her she’s stressed and needs to take time off, and she waits months (or a year) to do anything about it. By then, she’d fed up with everyone around her and makes an impulsive, last-minute plan get away.
Writing a book is about brainstorming, organizing, revising, and writing some more. It’s easy to overextend yourself and put your priorities at the bottom. So, take time off. Not doing so can cause you to resent the work that you’re deep down truly passionate about. Waiting until you’re about to crash and burn has a price.
Taking time off will naturally reduce your stress levels and help you think clearly. For some, it can be as simple as unplugging the TV, or from social media and other disruptions. Others will need more. Whichever bucket you fall in, when you design your life to include time for yourself—nature walk, a spa treatment, sports, a nap, meditation, reading for fun, brunch with a friend who uplifts you, or anything else that makes you happy—you’ll fill up your creative well. A fulfilled writer is a productive writer.
Improve your writing space
Your brain can only operate at its peak so long. So, if you want to write, your space should be conducive to creating. Consider these how these elements can affect your mood, outlook and ultimately, your productivity:
- Lighting: Make sure there’s enough natural and/or artificial light coming into the room.
- Desk space: Declutter your work surface and keep only what’s necessary. Treadmill or walking desks can help improve your concentration and regain your posture.
- Computer screen and keyboard: Whether you use a desktop or laptop, your screen should be at the right height and angle to prevent discomfort; your keyboard should be properly positioned to avoid long-term problems that are hard to reverse.
- Chair: If you suffer from any time of back pain, changing your chair can help prevent or decrease pain and discomfort. Experiment with adjustable and ergonomic chairs or writing while standing up to improve the health of your back.
What changes can you make to improve your comfort and productivity as you write?
Once you’ve created a healthy writing space, make sure to take regular breaks and vary your activities during those breaks. I used to sit at my desk for hours until my muscles were so tight, getting up was painful. Then, I’d lose time stretching and reorienting myself, which only slowed me down. These days, I try to write for 50 minutes at a time and take a 10-minute break to drink water, take a quick walk around the house (or up and down the stairs), or check the mail. Writing in blocks of time ensures I’m not seated position for too long a time.
Remember why you’re writing
Why are you writing your book? Be honest with yourself so you don’t set yourself up for disappointment down the road.
Answer this question. “I’m writing a book because I want to…”:
- Be validated by a publisher
- Change lives
- Make money
- Launch or complement a business
- Tell a unique story
Reminding yourself what you want to accomplish through your book will keep you focused and motivated on those days the words just won’t come, or you when you feel discouraged. Distractions and unexpected life events can swoop in and knock your faith, so take time to revisit your reasons from time to time and rest in the knowledge that you’re on the right path. Never forget your “why”.
Weaving better self-care into your life can take time if you’re not used to it. Try making incremental changes, monitor their impact regularly, and adjust as needed. Taking care of your mind and body will help you better handle those moments when you want to throw your hands up and surrender, so make self-care a priority starting today. You’ll feel better, and it will show in your writing.
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