The world can sometimes seem like a real drag. There’s a lot of excess weight that the universe lays on our backs, and it can take a monumental effort just to get from place to place. Bills, work, bad social interactions, and the non-stop roller-coaster of diaper canons that is 2018 can all drain you of your creative energies.
So how do you keep at it? How do you maintain that non-stop writing lifestyle?
For many…most in fact…you can’t. You will burn out faster than Vin Diesel in Fast and Furious 14: Kane’s Revenge.
The truth is that you are not a machine. I know, spoiler alert, but you had to learn it at some point. While you can burn the candle at both ends for a time, eventually that shit catches up with you. And when it does, your performance suffers.
For me, I tried throwing the candle into an open fire and seeing how long it would last. It did not end well.
I’ve written before about how you need to take care of yourself physically as well as mentally. Well, one of the best methods for self-care and recovery can be a simple day off. Take a 24-hour period and shut down.
Read a book. Play a game. Watch a movie. Let your creative juices come down from a boil before they spill over the pot.
I took a day off yesterday since I’d been having some trouble with a rewrite. Toward the end of the day, with my brain calm and pliable, new ideas sprang forth. Suddenly, I knew how to fix so many of the problems that had hitherto eluded me.
Life can be oppressive, especially when the world sometimes seems like the dark timeline from a bad time travel movie. Take some time for yourself, recover, and come back stronger than before. That story will be waiting for you.
Also, and this is a little off-topic but equally important, make sure you’re ready to vote. If you live in the US, check your registration and find your voting location. Make a plan to take time from work to vote.
Research the topics, make an informed decision, and vote. Especially for local issues. Your voice matters, and it is a civic duty.
Stay positive, ya’ll. The world keeps turning, and we’re not out of the fight yet.