Making Mental Space

How I get a bit of a reset

A lot of part-time writers (and maybe full-time as well) struggle with finding enough time to write, and with fatigue, both physical and mental, when trying to write. I’m no different in that respect.

My day job takes a lot of mental energy. I have to sit down and think hard about things for big chunks of my time. It uses a lot of the same parts of my brain as writing: thinking, planning, pondering. When I’ve spent all day working with my brain turned up to 11, it can make it hard to create the mental space in which I can write effectively.

I know some writers who try to do something writing-related 6-7 nights a week. I have done that before, but I get burnt out pretty quick doing that. I end up taking several days off to regain my mental composure and end up behind instead of ahead.

Through experimentation I’ve found that three or four decent nights a week of writing or editing is a good balance for me. I think of the nights in between as ‘reset’ nights, where I can turn off my brain and do something different for a bit. Usually I am playing video games or reading in my off nights. I recently did a post titled The Outside where I started thinking about how external factors affect me, even beyond writing. Getting some sun, getting outside, and doing things not at my computer help more than you think.

I’m also the kind of person who likes to let my subconscious work through problems, and I’ve learned to trust that it’ll present a solution at some point. Doing a non-mental task like taking a walk, doing dishes, and yes, taking a shower, will tend to get my internal wheels turning to figure out what I need to do next.

It makes me more productive as a writer when I have time to think about my next couple of scenes for a day or two before I jump back into writing.

If you’re struggling with your writing, or whatever task to which you’ve set yourself, don’t be afraid to experiment a little with your routine. My feeling is that it’s better to take the time to find out what works for you and go with that instead of slogging along with something you’re not happy with.

What’s your go-to writing routine? Are you an every day kind of person? Or a few days a week writer like me? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading!