Fighting Burnout
Changing the same old story
If you’re a writer with a full-time gig, you’re balancing your hours at work with everything you need to do at home. If you have young children, you’re tending to their needs nonstop with no time to do anything else. Or you may be a caregiver battling grief along with your responsibilities. There’s no way I could describe every situation, but we all have one thing in common: we’re burned out.
Or I suppose I should say that we’re susceptible to burnout. I know people who deftly handle stress even in difficult situations. I am not one of those people; I am an empath who absorbs other people’s emotions. My boundaries are nearly transparent. I have also taken on far too much for far too long. But I have made some changes to improve my mental health, so I’m happy to share them, and I hope they will help others.
I have started saying no. I’d always given that advice but never took it. I’m the weirdo who thrives in social situations like book sales and speaking events. I love a good editing project, and I play the bassoon. Because those things energize me, I was always taking those on, to the detriment of both my family and my own writing. I’ve put myself on a yearly plan where I take gigs selectively and never around holidays or my kids’ birthdays. I also cleared my calendar for this December to go to Disney with a friend.
I’ve stopped measuring my productivity in words. Seems backwards for a writer, but there are some times when your work suffers because you push yourself too hard. Take a day to do something you love. Hikes are a great way to get out in nature and physically move your body, but if that’s not possible for you, there are other options. Maybe you could learn to knit or even binge your favorite show. You’ll write better next time your butt is in the chair.
I’ve started using the Pomodoro method when I’m actually writing. Let’s say you have 20 minutes to write. Set your timer for 20 minutes and do it. No doomscrolling or looking at your email. Once that 20 minutes is over, you’re free. If you have a longer period to work with, use the chunk method. Set your timer, do the words, and then set your timer for a 10-minute break. Come back and repeat.
While I’ve practiced mindfulness and meditation for years, I’ve gone further by engaging with an amazing therapist. Using EMDR, we’re focusing on the stress I currently have and uncovering the deeper causes behind it. This allows me to focus more on the moment.
I recommend tapping into the various resources at your public library or your local indie bookstore. My top pick is Burnout: The Secret of Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. They are twin writers who have done the research on how our bodies fight stress and how we go from immediate, visceral emotion to calming enough to debrief the situation.
I know not all of these tips will help everyone. But you can get curious and try other ideas to see what works for you. If you have tips for the Duskbound team to share, please comment or write to us!