With the crazy year 2020 has been, I thought it would be appropriate for my last post of the year to discuss mental health for writers. Writing is a great way to improve mental health. But what can you do when writing is your job? How do you maintain optimal mental health when you’re already writing all the time?

There are lots of resources out there encouraging you to write about what’s stressing you out. Journaling is a great way to get things off your mind and destress, and it’s something my co-author Josie Myers and I recommend in our book Freeing the Butterfly. But if you’ve already been writing all day, flipping to a fresh page in your journal may be the last thing you want to do.

Here are a few things writers can do to improve mental wellness that don’t involve writing. 

Take Breaks

This may seem like an obvious one, but I know a lot of writers who finish a project and jump right into another one. Taking a break allows your mind and body to refresh. When you give your mind and body a break, both will be ready to give your next project their best stuff. 

Along with taking breaks, you should also reward yourself—celebrate your hard work with something you enjoy. Lately, I’ve been indulging in my favourite chocolate bar every time I publish a book.

Listen to Music

Not only is music relaxing, but it’s inspiring as well. Fast, upbeat music can help energize you when you’re having a hard time getting motivated, and music with a slower tempo can help you relax. This article about the relaxing power of music has some great links to try.

Some writers I know like to listen to ambient music while they write. Ambient music doesn’t have a persistent beat, and it's used specifically to enhance your mood. Try searching YouTube for “music for focus” or “music for relaxation” if you’d like to try writing to this kind of music.

Limit Your Choices

A common problem among writers is having too many story ideas. As Ricard Magnusson says in this article “5 Effective Tactics to Overcome Writer’s Block,” having too many choices can be crippling. As  someone who knows what it’s like to have many ideas and not enough time to work on all of them, I recommend keeping a notepad or digital folder just for ideas. 

By making note of your ideas in a special place, you are acknowledging them, but you don’t necessarily have to work on them all at once. They’ll be there when you’re ready to start a new project. 

When it comes time to work on your next project, limit your choices by first deciding what genre you want to write, then what type of story. Keep these things in mind while looking through your ideas list as a way to limit your choices. 

Sticking to a set type of story structure can also help limit your choices during the writing process. 

Go Outside

There’s nothing like fresh air to clear your head. I often combine going outside with moving my body by going for a walk. A lot of working through ideas happens when I’m walking. Sometimes I talk to myself and get funny looks, but by the time I’m finished my walk I feel relaxed and have a renewed outlook about the project I’m working on.

Going outside also helps improve your sleep and, if the sun is up, you’ll get some Vitamin D which helps keep your bones and muscles healthy. 

Move Your Body

I talked a bit about moving your body when I mentioned going for a walk, but another thing I like to do is dance to music. Not only is it good for my body, but it’s good for my mind too. Putting on a YouTube video of one of my favourite songs and dancing around always makes me feel better. It’s a two-for: a break for your mind and your body. 

As writers, we spend a lot of time sitting, so any time you can improve your mental wellness while also improving your physical fitness, it’s a win-win. 

These are some of my favourite ways to take care of my mental health when I don’t feel like writing in my journal. What are some of your favourite mental wellness tips for writers? I’d love to read them in the comments below.