Hi readers and writerly friends!
This week in Reader Life, we’re going over how to practice self-care for both readers and writers. It can be hard to remember to take care of ourselves, and I think after the insane year we’ve all had with 2020, we’ve been reminded how valuable good, regular self-care is important for everyone, no matter what hobbies or occupation you may have. While these tips are geared more for readers and writers, they’re certainly applicable for any kind of creator.
Woman reading in a relaxing floral milk bath. Photo by Monstera.
Give yourself a little grace as a writer
Sometimes it’s hard being a writer—I get it. Sometimes we get writers’ block and sometimes we just don’t feel like pulling up to the computer and cranking out 1200 words a day for the month of November, or ever for that matter. Writing is hard. No matter how many times I say it, it doesn’t make the process any easier. Writing can be really, really, reeeeeally difficult sometimes. Most of the time, in fact. It’s a process that makes you swoon, cry, cringe, hyperventilate, and want to tear your hair out at every turn. It’s frustrating when you want to write but you just don’t feel motivated or inspired enough to do so. It’s frustrating when you feel motivated and inspired but you just don’t feel like writing.
Give yourself grace as a writer. Remember, writing is hard, and it takes time to finish projects. Be kind and patient with yourself and remind yourself often, that writing isn’t something that everyone can do and that’s why you’re special and essential to this world.
Read my blog post, When Writing Becomes Difficult.
Read my blog post, 5 Reasons Most Writers Quit.
Stop caring what others think and stop comparing yourself to others
This goes for both readers and writers—stop comparing yourself to other people and stop worrying about what other people think. This kind of thinking doesn’t benefit anyone and can end up consuming so much of our time and energy.
Readers, stop comparing yourselves to other readers who may have read more books than you, may be faster readers, or who have more aesthetically pleasing bookshelves (and in turn, social media feeds.)
Writers, stop comparing yourselves to other writers who may have been published before you or who have published more books than you have, writers who may come up with beautiful words or excellent writing, or writers who seem to write easily without difficulty.
Everyone should stop comparing themselves to others and remember to appreciate the good qualities about themselves and enjoy the positive things that them apart from the other people in their community.
Allow yourself to put down or part with books you dislike
Give yourself permission to DNF—Did Not Finish—books that you don’t like or feel like a chore to read. If you find the book isn’t grabbing your pages at a hundred pages in, or you realize you have to bargain with yourself to sit down and read, consider that the book in question might not be for you and that’s okay. Think carefully about the books you read and try to build a reader profile for yourself, so you know what books to seek out and which ones to avoid in the future. If you notice historical fiction is just not captivating you the way paranormal romance does, then evaluate your tastes and remember to seek out books that align with them as you search for your next read.
Take frequent writing breaks to recharge your creative battery
Woman writing and using a laptop. Photo by cottonbro.
This piece of advice is essential. We’ve all been there —we glance at the clock and gasp after spending hours writing or reading the day away, hunched over our books and computer screens, in some other world. For readers and writers alike, remember to take frequent breaks to break up the tedium that reading/writing for hours so often brings. Readers, stand up and move around between chapters and writers, do some yoga or some kind of gentle movement to loosen up and get you out of your head. Consider taking a walk outside for fresh air or stroll down to your favorite coffee shop for a post-chapter treat!
Read for pleasure and not for work
Many of us creative bookworms often read to create content for our YouTubes, blogs, and social media accounts and we often read to review books. However, I implore you, dear reader, to remember to read just to read. Read for pleasure and read books that you enjoy. You don’t always have to read the most anticipated book of the year or the book of the month, especially if you can’t find time to read for yourself.
Write just to write
This is easier said than done, right? At first yes. Try writing just to dump all of your thoughts, feelings, items you were supposed to remember, lists and anything else taking up creative space in your mind. This is called brain-dumping and it can work wonders for writers who get stuck in their heads or are easily distracted. Try writing morning pages—Invented by Julia Cameron—where you mindlessly write for several pages, first thing in the morning to clear your mind for the important work you will do later.
Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron here.
Stay on a writing schedule
Read or write regularly. This will make it easier to sit down to work on your manuscript or dig into your reading material every single day. It might be hard to remember at first, so set alarms for yourself until it becomes a habit for you. Carve out a space and time for completing this activity daily and it will, slowly but surely grow increasingly easier for you. Eventually it will become like second nature. When that time rolls around each day, you’ll feel the writing/reading itch creep in and you’ll know what to do.
Check out my blog post, Writing Every Day: What Writing as A Journalist Taught Me.
Maintain a balanced diet
While this isn’t exactly related to reading or writing, it is related to being human. No matter what your hobby or occupation is, balanced diets are integral to your health and should never be left out of the self-care conversation. Remember to drink plenty of water and eat balanced meals throughout the day. Consider having a snack with your book and treat yourself to an occasional glass of wine or coffee while you write.
Move your body regularly
Much like the practice of maintaining a balanced diet is important for all readers and writers (and people in general,) exercising regularly is as well. Regular, quality exercise is crucial to your health and can help you keep your energy and mood elevated long after you’ve finished working out. There are countless studies that support the notion that exercise is directly linked to happiness and maintaining a positive mood and energy. So, like reading and writing, set aside time to exercise and loosen up.
Pro Tip: Couple your breaks with short, gentle stretch routines to knock out two birds with one stone.
Check out my Yoga For Writers: A 30-Minute Routine To Do Between Writing Sessions blog post.
Get plenty of good-quality sleep
Writing/reading are ultimately mental activities, and what we know about the brain is that brain function decreases when there’s a lack of sleep in our lives. This article from the Sleep Foundation explains how lack of sleep can impair our day-to-day cognitive function.
Sleep is an important time for the brain. Levels of brain activity change in each stage of sleep — including both rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep — and evidence increasingly suggests that sleep enhances most types of cognitive function.
Getting enough hours of high-quality sleep fosters attention and concentration, which are a prerequisite for most learning. Sleep also supports numerous other aspects of thinking including memory, problem-solving, creativity, emotional processing, and judgment.
—Sleep Foundation
How Lack of Sleep Impacts Cognitive Performance and Focus
Investing in yourself is also directly investing in your creativity and writing career. Consider what lifestyle changes you can make to positively impact your sleeping habits.
Adhere to a strict sleep schedule
Pick up a set of noise-canceling earbuds/earplugs
Upgrade your mattress and bedframe
Create a practical and nourishing night routine
Pick up some blackout curtains
Get a white noise or sound effects machine
Treat yourself to luxuriously soft bedsheets and comfy pillows
Cut off the caffeine in the afternoon
Turn your bathroom into an at-home spa for heavy writing days
Don’t forget to celebrate both the small and big wins
Two friends working creatively outside with coffee. Photo by Keira Burton.
Don’t forget to celebrate your small and big wins, no matter whether or not you’re a reader, writer, both, or neither. If you knock out a book, make sure to update your Goodreads Reading Challenge, and treat yourself to a coffee. If you manage to write through a particularly difficult chapter of your novel reward yourself with a break and 30 minutes of your favorite TV show. Celebrate in whatever way makes sense for you and your life, but make sure you don’t forget to set aside time to recognize when you’ve hit major and minor milestones and completed your goals. The challenges and wins alike can all blur together and without taking time to reflect and cherish your successes, its easy to get caught up in the drudges of the writing world. Don’t let the negativity and workload drag you down. Honor you small and big wins alike by taking time to celebrate the hard work you’ve done and how far you’ve come
Meet another reader/writer for coffee
I know this will be difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic but when this all blows over, make sure to reach out to your friends and family to catch up over coffee or a nice meal, and gush about all of your favorite reads or current writerly projects. In the mean time, if you can abide by social distancing guidelines while meeting a member of your safety circle or visiting with a new friend, try to find time to do so, but safely.
And don’t let isolation keep you locked inside —find your next adventure between the pages here.
Pro tip: Try working outside at a local park, in a coffee shop, or at the library for a change of scenery. Sometimes getting out of the house and out of your usual writing space might help spark inspiration and refresh your creativity. Plan a co-working date with a friend or colleague for extra focusing power.
And that’s it for my self-care tips for readers and writers. Have you practiced any of these tips before? What has worked for you in your reading/writing practice? Do you experience any overlap between the two activities? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!