There are many reasons writers come up with for not writing. It’s amazing how many reasons there can be, ranging from being exhausted to needing to defrost the freezer to the absolute crisis of not having any caffeine in the house. As long as there are excuses to use, writers will find them. Heck, we’re the ones who make them excuses up in the first place. We’re writers! But excuses are not going to get your novel finished or get that client project turned in on time.
There are four major categories for these excuses: no energy, no motivation, no ideas and no focus. I’m going to tackle each one and offer solutions to overcoming your particular brand of excuse. First up: No Energy.
No Energy
Everyone who has studied Newton’s Laws of Motion knows that “every object persists in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.” This is the common definition of inertia. That is what plagues writers who have no energy to write. They have succumbed to inertia by the mere thought of writing. It happens. Luckily, there are ways to break free from that state and get back to a place where ideas and words flow.
Here are some ideas to break free from your energy stasis:
Take a Walk
Not only will walking boost your energy, but being in nature has been proven to reduce stress and promote brain activity. This means relaxation and ideas. So grab your shoes and hit the road for a bit. If you can find a park or nature trail, it will work even better.
Go For a Run
Maybe a walk is too tame. Pick up the pace and get your blood pumping. The endorphin release will wake you up.
Ride Your Bike
Do you see a trend here? The idea is to get moving so you can break free from your inertia. Remember that an object in motion wants to stay in motion. Or, in other words, it is hard to get an object moving, but once it is, it’s easier to stay in motion. A little workout now could keep your fingers flying on the keyboard later.
Not into walking, running or biking? Try working out. Any form of exercise will boost your energy stores. Do a little dance. Do some calisthenics. Try yoga, the combination of body movement with deep breathing will help fight fatigue, reduce stress and help you focus.
Drink Caffeine
Okay, this is the cheaters ways of doing things, but it does work for some so don’t knock it. A shot of coffee or espresso can do wonders for your tired mind.
Stretch
Put your arms over your head and stretch. Research shows that it is nearly impossible to be sad if your arms are over your head. Not sure why or even it is true, but it can’t hurt to try.
Meditate
Studies show that reducing or controlling stress removes a huge energy-drain on your body. Try meditating for ten minutes or more and see if that helps.
Give It Up
I’m talking giving up sweets, alcohol, smoking—all those things that sap your energy and lead to poor health, not writing. Keep that. But try choosing protein-rich snacks and healthy beverages, like water. It will lead to more energy.
Sing Your Heart Out
The combination of breathing techniques required to sing and the stress-release of belting out a tune will help give you that boost you need. Add a little dance and you have a fun workout that might get you ready for another writing session.
Drink Water
Yup, it’s on here twice because often fatigue (and hunger, for that matter) are the result of dehydration. So down a glass and get back to typing.
Sit On It
Use a large ball instead of a chair. You can bounce and activate your core while you write, keeping the yawns at bay.
Do a Sprint
Either the traditional running version or a writer’s sprint. The pressure of writing to a deadline might get your heart pumping enough to push through the malaise.
Partner Up
Join a writer’s group or a partner in crime. Being around others could add energy to your sagging self.
Just Five More Minutes
Sometimes you will be tired. For some reason, I often get tired when I don’t want to write. I’ll be fine until I sit down and then exhaustion descends. There are any number of reasons this happens, but I have found if I press through it, the words start to flow. I make a deal with myself to write for five minutes on the project. When I finish that time period, I stretch and do another five. I keep doing that until the words are there and my mind is in the game. It doesn’t take long. Maybe twenty minutes at the most before I am on task and making progress. Now don’t get me wrong, it isn’t fun or easy, but if you press on, you will make progress, one way or another.
Good luck. Remember that in most cases, your lack of energy when it comes to writing is down to procrastination, lack of motivation or a lack of direction. Figure out which and you might have a solution to your problem.
The next blog will tackle that motivation issue. Until then, keep writing, even if it is five minutes at a time.