I lost the nervous tic associated with contemplating a chapter’s plot, or a sales letter’s persuasive phrase. I just let go.
What a concept. Living in the present was a liberating experience. I’m not complaining, but sometimes it’s too easy to add pack on the pressure, especially if you’re in business.
Like most freelance writers, we juggle writing, editing, revising, marketing, and other administrative tasks; it’s enough to squeeze the fun out of the whole process. But, what can we do to earn and still enjoy writing without bursting like an overinflated tire?
Writers should “cross-train” their brains. If we don’t, we run the risk of “writer’s block”, if we’re lucky. Or, worse…we completely shut down from mental fatigue.
There are over 639 skeletal muscles in the body, and experts suggest the brain is a muscle, too. If we consider what physical education taught us about allowing periods of rest between strength training, shouldn’t we consider the same for our brain?
In essence, if writers want to avoid mental stress, there’s nothing wrong with a little play time in-between writing (or thinking about it.) And, in the process, we might find added energy and inspiration.
Take special care not to overload your brain today (or any other day), and add one or more of these ideas for your “mental” getaway.
Meditation
You can get back to your writing later with meditation. Take all day or spend a few minutes in a cross-legged position in your office. Drop the “no time” excuse.
Simply taking a five-minute escape with your eyes closed thinking about your loves and desires will boost your energy for the day.
Visit the spa
Leave your laptop and books at the office and schedule an hour or two at the spa. Guys included. There’s no reason (male or female) you have to pass up a neck massage or manicure.
When you start tapping at the keyboard with a flexible neck and freshly manicured hands, you’ll wonder why you didn’t go sooner.
Pet play
If you have a pet, it’s easy to get lost in their world. Leave the reading and writing alone for fifteen minutes. Watching your goldfish or brushing your dog’s fur can be very relaxing and inspiring. I prefer to observe my dogs wrestling and sun bathing in the backyard.
Painting
Painting with an actual brush and paint on paper gives you the perfect excuse to get away from staring at your computer screen all afternoon. This charges my inspirational juices every time.
And, you don’t have to be Gauguin or Dali sweep paint around a blank piece of paper. Remember the preschool years?
Go shopping
You don’t always need to fill up a cart when you walk through a grocery store or your local mall. Browsing around the store offers more than a chance to exercise and gather tips on the latest sale prices.
A change of scenery, colors and people add a therapeutic escape from the four corners of your office.
Get lost in a book
At first, I wasn’t sure about this one. But, it’s not hard for all writers to escape in a novel. Unfortunately, novelists may find it difficult to read a book cover to cover without analyzing the plot, characters or theme chosen by the author.
In this case, choose one book for analysis and escape in another without jotting down notes.
Writers need to intentionally break away from the mental and physical action of writing. When you practice rejuvenating on a regular basis, it’s not hard to ignore the muse pushing you to be a mule.
Write when you want to write. Use the other time to cull inspiration and spark imagination. As you show your brain a little love, who knows what you’ll create in the process.
What non-writing activities relax you and recharge your mental energy?
Photo credit: istockphoto
