Mental Health Tips For Creative Writers

Writing, whether a job, a hobby, or something you only do once a year on the second full moon as long as it falls on Tuesday, can be a strain on your mental health. 

Writing can be stressful as well as mentally and physically straining, among many other things.

You need to be making sure you're practicing self-care for your body and your mind in order to keep writing as smooth sailing of a process as you can. 

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with yourself or your writing try to follow some of these tips to help set things right.

Take a Break

If you walk away from your computer or put down the pen and paper your story isn't just going to get up and walk away. It lives inside of you and there is plenty of time for you to finish it.

Even if you're on a tight deadline taking a break for a few minutes can help you get back into a focused mood and be ready to write when you return.

There's also no need to write every single day. I spend five days a week writing or working on my computer for up to eight or nine hours, sometimes more each day. The other two days are designated days with my partner and they limit my time to an hour or two for anything that desperately needs to be done that day. These breaks give my brain, wrists, and body a rest and make sure the required food and water go in a little less sporadic of a when I-get-to-it manner.  

Stretch 

I know hundreds of writers and authors and I can guarantee after watching them all at work that not a single one of them has good posture when they are writing. Some of them have the most expensive office chairs I have ever seen that will help them sit up straight… too bad they still hunch over their keyboards like goblins protecting their treasure. 

If you write sitting down set an interval timer on your watch, phone, or computer to go off every hour and take five minutes to get up, walk around, and stretch out your limbs.

Your eyes will also appreciate the break of focusing on something further away than a foot in front of you. 

If you're sitting at your writing space and reading this now go ahead and sit up straight, raise your arms above your head and stretch out your back. 

Get Some Air 

I'm not an outside, bright sun, bugs, and noise person. I prefer my days chilly enough that I can wear a cute cardigan and look forward to a slight breeze and warm beverage.  

I still make sure to go outside for a few minutes each day. 

Spending some time outside can help lift your mood, lower your anxiety, and help you focus on the world around you other than the world you are creating. Some of us write some dark things. (Present party included) seeing the beauty of the world around you or the sky up above you can help bring you back into a more positive headspace. 

(Don't forget the sunscreen!)

Inspiration can also come from anywhere and you never know, your next walk around the block could give you the inspiration for the next big bestseller. 

Be Kind 

To yourself. Writers are some of the worst critics of themselves. We doubt ourselves and our works and debate why we even write in the first place.

We write because we love it and as long as we are writing the story that we want to hear that's perfectly ok and it doesn't matter if anyone else will, but they will. I promise.  

You have enough voices that live in your head, you don't have room for one that tries to tell you you're not good enough. 

Reach Out

You never have to fight any battle alone. Grow a community of writer friends who understand everything you're going threw and can help cheer you up. Writers are amazing friends, they seem to always know the words to say when you need them. 

Don't spend the day locked up in your writer's brain or space pounding away at the keys to write your story. Spend time with family and friends and take your mind off of your story or even better talk to your groups about your stories if you're stressing out about them or stuck on a certain aspect. 

Speaking out loud can help some of those roadblocks in your mind come down and get you back on track. 

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Your mind is amazing and it has some truly amazing stories to tell. Be kind to it and give it the rest that it deserves so that you can keep on writing for many more to come. 

Take a break and then when you're ready, get back to writing.

I'm so proud of you.

With love, 

B.K. xo

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