1. If writing isn’t helping, you don’t have to do it.
2. There aren’t prizes for pushing yourself too hard when it isn’t a requirement.
3. Things always get better. Always.
4. You’re not going to create your best work when you aren’t feeling your best. It’s OK.
5. Yet, sometimes writing can turn negative emotions into something worthwhile.
6. If you don’t feel better after writing through your emotions, that’s also OK. You tried.
7. Be kind to yourself.
8. If it feels like you’ve hit the lowest point you can, then it’s likely things won’t get any worse.
9. You’re allowed to feel all the feels.
10. Breaks are good for the body, soul, and mind. Take a small one.
11. It’s OK not to write today.
12. It’s OK if anything you do write today doesn’t turn out as good as you hoped it would.
13. No one writes well all the time.
14. Sometimes all you can do is your best — whatever that might mean for you today.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a staff writer with The Cheat Sheet, a freelance editor and writer, and a 10-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Perfect post. I am self confessed terrible at pushing myself when I’m close to breaking point! I feel guilty if I take a day to relax, and always thing I should be doing at least SOMETHING. Great tips here and I hope I can follow them <3
I’ve struggled with this for a long time. If you have to, make relaxing part of your schedule. Put it on your to-do list! I have to! haha
That’s a good idea! I’ll take you up on that :)
Good advice 🙂
Thank you :)
Thank you. Exactly what I needed to hear today 😊.
Perfect timing then. :) You’re so welcome.
😊
I often tell myself (and others) “All you can do is your best, whatever that is.” I think that is a really critical thing, to recognize that in many ways “doing your best” is not about measuring up to a bar; it’s about trying, and in the process, discovering what your best is in this particular moment. It is an act of discovery, not a fulfilling of any kind of promise or requirement.
Absolutely agree. Your best is your best even if it isn’t the best you’ve ever done. :)
Quite. I think one of the more subtle pitfalls is failing to praise and reward oneself because “today’s best” was not quite what we hoped. But in many ways just the choice to “keep at it” is a form of triumph, regardless of the results.
Loved this post
Just today I posted about instant pick me ups to try when you feeling low
http://alifelessordinarywithsaurabhavna.com/2018/08/13/pick-me-ups-for-a-tough-day/