5 Tips for Reducing Stress to Help You Get into Your Creative Zone
Believe it or not, writing can be stressful and can take a toll on your mind. Reducing stress levels is necessary if one wants to become a successful writer. It requires you to start with a clear head to get into your creative zone. You need to organize all your thoughts and be ready to write them down on a piece of paper.
Stress and writing anxiety are experienced by all writers at some point. You would start writing a blog or a new chapter of your book, and suddenly, you feel everything is just too much to handle. You begin to panic, thinking nothing is going to work out.
Getting into your creative zone becomes nearly impossible. You get edgy and start doubting your ability as a writer as nothing seems good enough. You are juggling many things at a time, and stress management becomes just too much for you.
What Causes Writing Anxiety?
Being stressed out or anxious about the quality of your work is normal, and it shows how much you care. The most important aspect is to consider it normal. Every writer goes through it some time in their lives. The reasons for triggering writing anxiety can be many. Here are a just few:
- Personal Problems
- Inexperience with a writing task
- Deadlines
- Previous bad experiences with writing
- Lack of interest in the topic
- Feelings of self-doubt (e.g. 'I can not write up to the mark', or 'I can never be a good writer')
Here, we will discuss six healthy writer tips on how a writer can avoid stress and get into the creative zone without getting overwhelmed.
1. Just Write it Down
Next time when you feel stressed out, write everything that comes to your mind on a piece of paper. Whether you are writing a blogpost, continuing a work in progress or perhaps, writing a Quora post. It is good to remind yourself that writing is the solution rather than an addition to your anxiety. You might have so much information in your head, and you are just thinking about writing it down, so why not get done with it. Start training your mind that writing will help you in reducing your stress, even if what you are writing does not make any sense.
2. Get Your Heartbeat Running
Take time out for yourself. Even if it is just 30 minutes in a day. Going out for a jog or a walk has countless benefits. Not only will it be great for your physical health, but it will give you a much needed mental break. You have to recognize that writing is a complex process, and finding time to workout will be beneficial. Regular exercise releases feel-good hormones in your body that would give your energy levels an instant boost. When you return to your writing desk, you would be able to focus on your writing in a better way.
3. Stop Trying to be a Perfectionist
“Perfectionism in writing is deadly because it does not mean anything. All it does is poison the well.” – Anonymous
Do not aim to be a perfectionist. Realize that no one can do everything perfectly. We are humans, and we all make mistakes.. Take it slowly and gradually. Keep on working on your upcoming writing instead of lingering on the previous ones. In this way, you would avoid and stay clear of writing anxiety and stress when writing your book.
4. Take a Break From the Internet
Stress can happen even to the most experienced of writers. In addition to that, the world of social media can affect us and our ideas. We are constantly checking Facebook, Instagram and Twitter all the time. The more you use it, the more you feel you will miss out on important news or events. All of that can overwhelm us. It throws us off balance and out of our creative zone. Therefore, stress management is very important. Taking a break from the web once in a while can be helpful for our mental well-being. Instead of using the web, go hiking with friends or on a picnic with your family. You may even come up with further ideas for your writing!
5. Breathe and Relax
As cliché as it might sound, it is the simplest of things you can do to tone down your stress levels. Just breathe in and out, gather your thoughts and just let it go. Try meditation or yoga, if you have to. Listen to some good music and unwind. Watch your favourite show on Netflix, drink coffee, do whatever you can to make you feel relaxed and in the writing zone. It will give you a sense of calm and make you feel better, and you will get a clear idea of how to resume your writing.
Alongside these health tips, one of the best ways to reduce stress is reading. Austin Macauley brings you some epic fiction-books to captivate your mind and help reduce stress and writing anxiety.
Book: The Last Royalist
Author: Bronte Henwood
The people of Lexia thought that the war was over. Normality began once again. Several years after the Royal Family from each realm had been outlawed, everyone was free to live life as per their choice. Alia was a recent protection graduate who wanted to prove herself to the world. After a rumour of a Royalist outbreak, Ali knew it was her only chance to make a big difference. Will Alia sacrifice her loved ones to succeed? This book promises to alleviate your stress and give you a great reading experience. Buy here.
Book: The Big Dead Dry
Author: Portia Stanton-Noble
Brumby Flat, a small Australian town, becomes the centre of attention when a series of murders and accidental deaths take place. The murder of a mysterious homeless man erupts chaos everywhere. Detective Phillip Duncan takes charge of the investigation. He has to deal with bewildering people to find out the killer. This book is a head-scratcher and will keep you guessing till the end. Manage stress and engage yourself by reading this book. Buy here.
Every single writer who has published a book has heard the voice of self-doubt. It can be draining if you feel anxious or stressed out. You realize stress management is not your cup of tea. Especially if you are trying to write down the book you have been thinking about for a long time.
Therefore, you need to avoid stress where you can, to give you peace of mind. It lets your writing flow before you become too engulfed in writing anxiety. We hope these writer tips will lessen your anxiety and go a long way in reducing stress from your life as an aspiring writer. Once you ace your stress management, no worry can ever derail you from your creative zone.
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