I got home late last night from the Highlights Foundation’s “Sharing Our Hope” workshop, where I did a lot of preaching about the importance of self-care for writers and how absolutely critical it is to our writing lives.
We had a marvelous time together and forged new friendships. Even so, after “giving out” for several days, I’m exhausted this morning and slightly under the weather.
Stop! Stop! Stop!
I started right in on my to-do list, which managed to grow considerably even when I was gone. But I felt over-whelmed. Then my own voice came back to me from a talk on Saturday on self-care for writers. The voice was clear: “Practice what you preach!”
So I read some of my own blog posts and reminded myself of a few things I already knew. Thanks to “Mood-Dependent Writing Stages,” I have decided to tackle some rote-writing and prewriting tasks that need to be done. They won’t require nearly so much psychic energy as what I had planned to do.
And after re-reading “Writer Diagnosis: Failure to Thrive,” I saw how I could get from “languishing” to “flourishing” today. I needed that middle step–nourishing–in a couple of different areas. I plan to actually DO them!
Do What You Already Know
I think today’s writers are some of the most educated writers ever seen. But we’re not especially good at doing what we know is the wisest thing to do.
I am guilty of that too frequently. At least for today, I’m going to change that!
By any chance, is there some area of your writing life where you “know better,” but you also need to follow through? Be brave and leave a comment!
Alas, yes, I just had this message reinforced when my lower back injury was aggravated, requiring emergency chiropractic care and taking it easy, which did not help me with my to-do list! The injury occurred because I had not been faithfully exercising, “not having time” because I was “too busy” with other people and things. Just like they say on the airlines, put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others with theirs!
Oh, Jane, why do we do this to ourselves when we know better!?!? I do the same thing–paying big-time when a few daily “small time” activities would have prevented the problem. Good luck to you with your back injury too.
You can be assured that I am doing my core exercises–for the rest of my life! Be kind to yourself, Kristi!
Thanks, Jane. I will try! 🙂
Hi
We may have passed each other on the road. I arrrived at the cabins on Monday — around 1pm. I’m UnWorkshopping 🙂
Liz, that’s funny! We did pass on the road! My ride picked me up at noon on Monday. I wish I were there with you UnWorkshopping. 🙂
Oh, Kristi, I hope you will have some quiet time to decompress and get working again. I was at Write 2 Ignite over the weekend and came home to a busy day with intense choir practice for High Mass followed by my husband’s departure … all is well, but it’s so important to REST. When you get a chance, I want to see pictures 🙂
Jane, please take care.
Vijaya, thank you for the advice. I am taking it a lot more than I usually do. But it had been a very tightly packed five months before I left, and I knew once the adrenaline dropped when I got home, I’d likely get sick. I did a bit. But I am much better today finally. That’s the one thing about freelancing…it seems to be feast or famine with projects. But I am heading into an easier month and I’m already loving it!
My camera broke at the conference, so except for individual photos of the gals there, I don’t have any. I will have to wait to see what the others took and share. 🙂