Work-Life Balance Tips to Recharge Your Creative Juices

*Guest post by Sophia Young.

Trying to separate work and life can be particularly challenging for writers. You want to go to work to practice your craft, and then return home to practice some more. Given the constant nature of the creative process, the stress that comes with it may bleed into your daily life. It can be hard to disentangle the emotions and exhaustion associated with creating and building new worlds from your everyday life with family and friends.

Writing is a fantastic way to share your ideas with the world. However, if you find yourself constantly typing, writing, or scribbling to meet work or personal deadlines, then you might be working too hard. If you’re hunched over your computer or notebook for hours and scarcely doing anything else, it may be time to consider other key aspects of your life that you're neglecting.

Here are some tips for managing your schedule and continuing to create while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Set a Schedule and Stick to It

If you work as a full-time writer, you have the freedom to set your own working hours. You can create a timetable that is convenient for you. Set a writing plan that promotes self-discipline while also allowing you to establish boundaries for yourself, your family, and your friends.

For instance, if everyone knows you’re writing between 8 and 11 in the morning, they're less likely to invite you to a delicious breakfast at a nearby diner or a yoga session at the gym. With a calendar to follow, you may also find it easier to resist and say no.

If you want to spend the evenings with your loved ones, then strive to complete your work during the day to ensure that you have free time at night.

Take Breaks

Make mental and physical health breaks a priority. It's easy to lose interest in writing when you're burned out. Moreover, sitting for long periods each day raises your risk of developing serious health conditions such as heart disease, back pain, cancer, and Type 2 diabetes.

Take a 15-minute break every other hour, stretch your legs, walk around the house, or take a quick stroll on the street. Walking can boost your creativity and productivity. 

While writing does require hard work and commitment, it's critical not to isolate yourself from other elements of life. Reconnect with friends, play with your children, or do something you've been putting off for a while since you've been too focused on writing.

Keep Your Free Time Free

Avoid thinking about work during your free time. If you've spent the entire day working on a particularly challenging chapter or article, chances are you'll be thinking about it in the evening, and this can ruin your free time—and dinner.  

Stick to your schedule and reserve all work-related activities for work hours. Once you've completed your set tasks for the day, switch off your laptop. Instead of "just doing some research" for the next writing assignment, spend time with your loved ones.

According to studies, having a moderate amount of free time is beneficial for mental wellness. Too little free time can result in stress, while too much might lead to a sense of inefficiency and lack of purpose. Balancing work and free time each day may be the key to achieving an optimal sense of well-being.

Be Picky with Freelance Work

Be selective about your freelancing if you can afford it. Many writers freelance or have a side gig to supplement their income. After all, writers are frequently underpaid, and freelancing may sometimes be necessary to make ends meet.

If you have to take on more projects, try to pick ones that you enjoy writing about. Working on projects that you're reluctant to write can take up a lot of your time and energy. On the other hand, if you can secure more projects that match your personal interests, you'll likely finish them sooner because you'll be more eager and motivated to write them.

Love What You Do

As a creative writer, setting professional goals can be challenging. You may find yourself taking on freelance projects you're not genuinely interested in, or perhaps you're working on a personal project that's proving to be more frustrating than rewarding.

If you’re stuck on one of these—even one you’re eager to complete—try taking a break and moving on to another project. While commitment and discipline are essential, it's better to switch gears and focus on a different project or start something altogether new than to exhaust all your time and effort on one that will leave you feeling burned out.

To achieve a work-life balance, you must be passionate about what you do. Make sure your personal projects are recharging and not draining you.

Final Thoughts: Create for the Sheer Joy of It

While writing is an excellent outlet for creativity, it can also be a long and tedious process. It takes time and effort, and occasionally, blood, sweat, and a lot of tears, to transform the ideas in your head into published masterpieces. 

It doesn't have to be excruciating, though. Maintain a healthy work-life balance and apply the tips above to rekindle your joy and get your creative juices flowing.

Thank you for the thoughtful guest post, Sophia!

*Sophia Young recently quit a non-writing job to finally be able to tell stories and paint the world through her words. She loves talking about fashion and weddings and travel, but she can also easily kick ass with a thousand-word article about the latest marketing and business trends, finance-related topics, and can probably even whip up a nice heart-warming article about family life. She can totally go from fashion guru to your friendly neighborhood cat lady with mean budgeting skills and home tips real quick.