Stress kills writing. It's a fact. When you're body and mind are put under pressure it becomes very hard for your body to function normally. Things like sleeping, eating, sex, and yes, writing become very different tasks. I've worked at a summer camp for a long time and if there's one thing that campers have commented, it's that it hard to poop at camp, simply because they're in a new place.
For things like eating and sleeping, people tend to react either by doing much more and some people end up doing much less. I'm on a year-long exchange in Hungary right now, I've been here for close to two months, and if there's one thing I've noticed is how much I've been eating and sleeping (I fall into the 'much more' category, in case you were wondering).
For things like eating and sleeping, people tend to react either by doing much more and some people end up doing much less. I'm on a year-long exchange in Hungary right now, I've been here for close to two months, and if there's one thing I've noticed is how much I've been eating and sleeping (I fall into the 'much more' category, in case you were wondering).
For writers, this becomes very pronounced. I've had to fight for every bit of inspiration I can find simply because it's a stressful situation and I've had my mind on other things. For other writers, it could be that you have a stressful job, you're in school, or you have three kids to look after. Or, I suppose, all of the above.
The important thing to remember is to de-stress. Find something small that you can do to give yourself a break. For me, I spend a lot of time by myself, sitting in a coffee shop and working on this year's NaNo project. There are days when I do this even though I should be in school, but, hey I'm on exchange an school doesn't count for me anyways.
If writing isn't your day job, then make sure you take the time away from everything else to write, if that's what you love to do. If writing is your day job, make sure it's not the only thing in your life. Take up a sport, join a club, spend time with your friends. Having variety in your life will help to fuel inspiration.
The important thing to remember is to de-stress. Find something small that you can do to give yourself a break. For me, I spend a lot of time by myself, sitting in a coffee shop and working on this year's NaNo project. There are days when I do this even though I should be in school, but, hey I'm on exchange an school doesn't count for me anyways.
If writing isn't your day job, then make sure you take the time away from everything else to write, if that's what you love to do. If writing is your day job, make sure it's not the only thing in your life. Take up a sport, join a club, spend time with your friends. Having variety in your life will help to fuel inspiration.
I'm not saying you should take time away from things that are 'more important' to relax, but find the time. A lot of people think that relaxing and/or writing is a luxury they can't afford, simply because there is so much else to do, when actually, taking a bit of time to yourself is probably one of the most important things you can do, especially for your writing. A stressed out you is an unhappy you, and an unhappy you is an uninspired you, and an uninspired you can't write for shit.
If you love writing, then make the time for it. No one will think you were 'just being lazy' when you finally have that 500 page novel out after months of hard relaxing.
If you are solely a writer, then take time away from it. For me, writing is how I relax, but I can see why it might jot be so relaxing if paying your bills is dependant on it. Find something to take yourself away from the stress of it. Mental health is just, if not more important than physical health. I've always believed that.
Layla
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