Home

Articles About Writing

Workshops

Income Spinners

Current Contest 

Contest Results

Affiliates

Writer to Writer Ezine

Newsletter Archive

Websites

Research Links

Free Courses

Freebies

About Us
Our Staff Ad Rates Writer's Guidelines Romance Writer2Writer Writer2Writer Amazon Bookstore
         

 

Seven Ways Writers Can Reduce Stress

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Two completed manuscripts lay on your desk waiting to be edited, you’ve promised a friend you would finish the critique of her short story yesterday but it’s only half done, and you have an article due to your editor by the end of the day.

Is it any wonder writers feel stressed out?

According to the American Institute of Stress, "numerous surveys and studies show that occupational pressures and fears are far and away the leading source of stress for American adults." They go on to say this situation has steadily increased over the past few decades.

It was also stated that while stress is difficult for scientists to define because it is a highly subjective phenomenon that differs with individuals, stress can have wide ranging effects, not only on emotions, moods, and behaviors, but also various systems, organs, and tissues all over the body.

Below I’ve listed seven ways you can reduce stress. These suggestions will assist you to be more productive, and at the same time keep you healthy too.

1). Eliminate disorganization and clutter in your workspace.

It’s hard not to feel anxious when you’re trying to work in an area which looks like it’s just experienced a trip through the eye of a tornado.

The quickest way to cut back on clutter is to handle each piece of paper only once. Keep two file folders marked "URGENT" and "ASAP" for sorting mail, notes from school, and other paperwork, then deal with them in that order.

I also find it helpful to have a set of three letter-sized trays on my desk marked as follows:

Outgoing - This first tray is for all my outgoing correspondence;

Research - The second tray holds research materials for projects I am currently working on;

Filing - and the last one is for paperwork that needs to be filed.

 

2). Cut down on errands

In their book, Working from Home, self-employment experts Paul and Sarah Edwards, suggest scheduling biweekly or monthly trips for supplies. Not only will this cut back on the number of interruptions in your daily life, if you run errands with a friend it can seem more like a day out than another boring task, which can help to reduce stress too.

3). Exercise

Exercising is a great way to reduce stress. Vigorous aerobic-type exercise--running, power walking, bicycling, rollerblading—are not only fun but also benefits your body and overall health.

4). Yoga, Meditation, and other Relaxation Techniques

Helpguide is an organization dedicated to empowering people to "understand, prevent, and resolve health challenges." They suggest that while you can’t avoid stress, you can return to a "state of balance and regulation" by using deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and exercise.

To find out more about what technique might be right for you, check out their website at http://www.helpguide.org/index.htm.

5). Deal with Overload

Writers are constantly trying to balance their careers and personal lives. Maintaining a regular writing schedule can seem next to impossible when being tugged in a million different directions. And when you’re faced with a deadline, it’s easy to get anxious over needing to get it done.

Time management is a vital element in your quest to reduce your stress levels. Here are a few ways you can manage your time better and feel less anxious over how much you have to do:

** Write out a to-do list - Each week, compile a list of what you need to get done. This will not only help you prioritize your projects, it is also a great way to see how many tasks you check off, which gives you a great sense of accomplishment.

** Delegate - Ask for help when you need it. Whether it be with household chores, getting the kids off to baseball practice, or feeding the family dog, others will help out if you ask-especially if it means spending more time with you later.

** Just say No - It is such a small word, you think it would be easy to say. But it’s hard for lots of people - including me. And when you add another task onto an already overloaded ‘plate, you’re inviting burn out. The stress of trying to accomplish it all will leave you a nervous wreck.

6). Stop procrastination

Some types of stress are self-induced.

Many people work better under pressure, but it’s not good for you.

One way to eliminate this stress is to stop procrastinating. This often evolves from not being properly organized. (See above tips.)

7). Take care of yourself

It is easy when you feel overwhelmed and stressed beyond belief to deny yourself of the right amount of sleep, survive on junk food, and staple yourself to the chair until that last word of your latest article or story is written.

But, are you really helping yourself?

According to the American Institute on Stress, the key to reducing stress is to prevent it. In order to do this, you must identify the sources of stress in your life and find ways to avoid them or reduce their impact.

Following the above tips and suggestions will go a long way toward this. Avoiding excess caffeine and other stimulants will also help. Ensure you get enough rest, and above all, take time out for yourself. As they say, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

No matter how you decide to do it, reducing stress is good news for your body, mind, and writing career. You owe it yourself and your family to remove as much stress as possible from your life.
 

For Additional Tips, Read Cheryl's Article on Procrastination

 

About the author: Cheryl C. Malandrinos began writing as a teenager, but it wasn’t until she became a stay-at-home mother that she began to fulfill her dream of a full-time writing career.  She is a freelancer who specializes in time management tips for writers.  She has also written articles on everyday life in the 1800’s, gardening, parenting, and women’s health issues.  Visit Cheryl’s website at http://ccmalandrinos.tripod.com/
   

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Last updated: August 28, 2007