Writing may not be the most physically demanding job, but over time it can take a serious toll. Envisioning settings, brainstorming dialogue, and feeling our characters’ emotions are mentally exhausting—not to mention the wrist pain, eye strain, and screen-induced headaches. These side effects are exacerbated when we push ourselves into overdrive to achieve big goals in a short time. NaNoWriMo is a prime example.
You may be willing to suffer for your novel. You may think you can tough it out. But while foregoing self-care may buy you a few extra writing hours now, it will kill your productivity in the long run. It will cause you to get sick more often, to lose focus due to fatigue, and to fall into a mental rut. So, while you’re working your little writerly butt off for your latest project, follow these steps to take care of yourself—and ensure many more productive writing hours in the future.
- Sleep. Staying up late and rising early may seem the perfect way to expand your writing time, but don’t fall into this trap. You won’t get much writing done if you’re nodding off at your keyboard.
- Eat… When you get deep into a story, it’s easy to lose track of time, spending hours at the keyboard and forgetting to eat. Then suddenly you can’t focus because your stomach is growling like a hungry tiger. Take breaks for meals and snacks to keep your energy up and your creativity humming.
- …and eat healthy. Some foods give us heartburn or headaches, neither of which is conducive to a productive writing sesh. Similarly, if you eat junk food for breakfast, you won’t have much time for writing before you feel hungry again. Eat balanced meals, with enough carbs, protein, and fiber to fill you up and energize your writing muscles.
- Exercise. I learned many years ago that regular exercise is crucial for me to cope with stress, sleep well, and maintain good mental health. More recently, when I developed sciatic nerve problems, I found exercise helps keep my pain at bay. No matter how much you’d like to hole up and work on that novel for a month straight, don’t forget to make time for exercise.
- Take breaks. This may be counterintuitive, but it’s crucial to your productivity and your health. Stay tuned to your body. When you start to feel burned out, allow yourself to take a break from writing, whether it’s an hour or a week. Go for a walk, watch a movie, take a nap—whatever you need to recharge. Then return to your novel refreshed.
- Put yourself first. Writing can be emotionally draining, especially for those of us who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. Remember: No matter how important this novel is to you, nothing is more important than your mental health. Without it, your novel will suffer, and so will every other aspect of your life. If a dramatic scene leaves you feeling emotionally wrecked, take a step back.
- Lean on loved ones. Family, friends, and pets are here for you—and so is your writing community. Take advantage of the NaNoWriMo forums, Twitter, the blogosphere, writing organizations, and critique groups. Reach out for support when you need it, and offer support in return.