7 Ways to Take Care Of Your Mental Health as a Writer
When it comes to being a professional writer, it is important that you care for your mental health. While writing may not seem like a tough job, it is in fact quite challenging, and could really test your mental health in the long run.
If you want to last long as a professional writer and achieve your writing dreams, you should have a set strategy for caring for your mental health.
Here are 7 ways to care for your mental health as a writer.
- Keep track of your writing schedule
One of the most stressful aspects of being a writer is time management. While some people think that writers have a lot of time on their hands, it is difficult for most writers to manage their time.
So if you want to maintain your mental health, it is very important that you have a writing schedule and stick to it. If you are going to have a writing schedule, it is important that you plan them efficiently.
Remember that writing takes an incredible amount of focus to do right. So you should set your writing schedule at a time where you are at your most productive. It could be early in the morning, the afternoon or late in the evening.
Your writing schedule could take place at practically any time. What’s important is that you could stick to it as effectively as possible. By doing so, you will have a great routine that keeps you focused and calm throughout the writing process.
- Take time to meditate
If you want to care for your mental health, it is very important that you know how to control your anxiety. One of the best ways to do this is to take up meditation.
By meditating on a daily basis, you will be able to clear your mind of unnecessary worries. Meditation is not really a magic trick that will help you control your mental issues.
It is a mental exercise that allows you to keep your anxieties in check. If you are going to take up meditation you should be patient.
Remember that meditation takes a good amount of practice to get right, so just take it one step at a time. Go to a secluded area of your home, and sit down on a comfortable surface.
Try to clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts and just focus on your breathing. Meditation is technically a breathing exercise, and it will take you some time before you fully master the art.
- Make physical fitness a priority
If you want to stay mentally healthy, it is important that you make your physical fitness a priority. Remember that one of the biggest factors in maintaining mental health is staying fit.
The better your body feels, the more well-adjusted you are as a person. This sense of well-being will help you throughout the writing process.
Being physically fit gives you confidence. It makes you feel like you could do practically anything. This confidence will help you stay mentally healthy during your writing sessions.
- Learn how to accept rejection
As a writer, you should know how to accept rejection. As a newbie writer, you don’t really have a fan base yet. This entails you to reach out to potential fans, and create a name for yourself.
This also requires you to release your work to the reading public. However, there will be times where your work will get criticized. It could be due to a writing mistake, or some of the critics just don’t like the way you write.
Whatever the reason may be, criticism could really hurt. It could also wreck your confidence and affect your overall mental health. However, as a writer, you should understand that you are allowed to make mistakes.
You are allowed to be imperfect, and you have a lot to learn before you do make your mark on the literary world. This humility and self-awareness will help you stay mentally healthy during the whole writing process.
- Have a great support group
Being a writer could be quite a lonely journey because you are the only one who will do the writing. However, this does not mean that you will have to go through the writing journey alone.
Remember that there are a lot of other writers out there, and you could ask them for help or moral support. One of the best support groups a writer could have is family and friends.
You could also approach other groups such as writing clubs for help. By knowing you have a group of people supporting you as a writer, you will be able to stay focused and mentally healthy during the writing process.
- Take it easy on yourself
One of the biggest contributors to your anxiety as a writer is unrealistic expectations of yourself. As a writer, you will want to achieve great things in the literary world.
However, you should remember that you are just starting out, and making a name for yourself as a writer is a difficult prospect for just about anyone. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to create great work right off the bat.
- Ask veteran writers for help
When you start out, there will be times where your conviction as a writer will waver. It could be due to a bad review of your work or a lack of public interest in your work.
This could actually mess with your mental health. Most beginner writers feel insecure about their writing abilities. It is a good idea to contact veteran writers and ask them for help.
Veteran writers have usually seen it all. They have had their fair share of challenges, and they managed to overcome them. If you are going to ask a veteran writer for help, it is important that you are as polite and honest as possible.
Tell them that you are struggling as a writer and that their mentorship could elevate your writing skills to a whole other level. Remember that they are under no obligation to help you, so if they do deign to help, you should show your appreciation.
Conclusion
If you are going to be a professional writer, it is important that you take care of your mental health. Being a writer might seem like a tame job, however, it is in fact a stressful undertaking, and if you are not careful it might tax your mental health. With these tips, you’ll be able to take care of your mental health as a writer.
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