You’ve established a daily writing routine and your word count is climbing steadily. Suddenly, Real Life barges in, announces an emergency and drags you away from your book. Hours turn to days and before you realise it, weeks have passed, and your growing word count is a faded memory.
Recently, my dad was taken into hospital. The four weeks that followed were worrying, stressful and exhausting. My weekly routine, including my writing, was replaced with new priorities – parents, family, and my day job.
Throughout that time, my inner writer was tapping impatiently on a desk somewhere in the back of my mind. I was very aware of him and often felt drawn to my manuscript, but any time I sat down, my focus quickly abandoned me. I ended up staring at the screen, having to read the same paragraph over and over again. After a few abandoned attempts, I decided to wait until things were back to normal.
Once dad was home, and on the mend, I returned to editing my book. I was tentative at first, as if my brain had forgotten how to write. Half an hour later I was back in the groove, interacting with my words just like they were old friends. Afterwards, I felt like an inner turbulence that I hadn’t even been aware of, had been calmed somewhat. I felt more grounded.
Looking back on that period, I am disappointed in myself, at how easily I gave in. I enjoy writing, I know the benefits of doing it daily, and how a couple of hundred words every day adds up over a few weeks. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the time – I had plenty of opportunities, lots of thirty minutes slots, and some longer. So what happened – did I give up too soon? Was I just not as committed as I thought? Do I need ideal conditions to write!
There will always be times when our routines are thrown into disarray. That’s just a part of life, a part we have no control over. So how can we handle these occasions better? The key might lie in understanding our responses to unexpected and stressful events. We may not have control over what happens or when it occurs, but we can decide how we respond to it.
1. Use Writing as an Anchor
Disruptions snatch us from our routine, often one we have worked hard to set up and that we depend on to get results. What we need most during these times are Anchors that can help us reconnect and recharge. These tend to be activities that give our mind a rest from stress and responsibility. They help release tension and create space to breathe, so we can calmly make sense of the chaos around us. My anchors include yoga, meditation, and walking in nature. Now that I’m back writing, I’ve realised that it too, can be used as an anchor. As a grounding tool.
2. Lower Your Expectations
In times of stress, do not expect your writing to reach your usual standards. Chances are it won’t. So before you start, lower your expectations, and afterwards, be happy with whatever you have achieved. Taking that time out from the chaos will give your emotional centre a chance to rest and recuperate, and you’ll be better able to deal with tough situations.
3. Be Flexible
If the words don’t flow or editing requires just too much focus, try something easier like a blog post, a poem or journaling. The latter can be very beneficial in working through overwhelm and teasing out difficult decisions.
4. Momentum is Important
Days pass very quickly when distracted by life’s curveballs, quickly turning into weeks or more. Writing something every day, however small, keeps the plot and characters in your head, and the momentum going. When the crisis has passed, it will be easier to resume your regular routine.
There is no doubt that life will throw unexpected challenges in our path. And that is good, because it’s in dealing with the unexpected and the difficult, that we learn, that we grow.
Distractions are not to be feared or avoided. Instead, we just need to find balance during those times, some way of taking care of ourselves through a connection with whatever sustains us. For some that might be physical exercise. For others, it might be sharing their problem with a friend.
For me, I now look at my writing time as more than just the creation of books and blog posts. I see it as a way of giving my overloaded brain a rest, a break from the merry-go-round of problem solving and worry.
Happy Writing,
Harry
Useful Links
#22 – The Benefits of Writing Every Day
#17 Using Small Chunks of Time to Write
#12 Banish Your Writing Distractions
#10 – How Yoga Influences My Writing
#4 – Be Prepared When You Sit Down to Write
The content of this page is for informational purposes only and shouldn’t be seen as any kind of advice. See Terms and Conditions for further details.