Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. We were lucky yesterday and had a sixty-degree day where I was able to get out and go for a walk. My pinched nerve is still bothering me, so I was only able to go a couple of miles. Even so, it was nice to get some fresh air.
But enough about that, today I thought I’d talk about burnout. Burnout for writers or anyone really happens when you don’t pace yourself. Like a runner who sprints to early in the race, you can run out of gas. The joy you used to feel while creating your work just isn’t there, and the ideas are stagnant.
You’ve hit the wall and the only thing you can do is stop and take a break. When this happens, I have a few go-to activities that help ease the stress of burnout, because not producing something can be just as stressful as producing something, right?
I go for a run and get those endorphins going. Nothing beats a run for handling the stress of burnout.
I go for a hike. A hike through the woods is good for you mentally and physically. Forest bathing is really a thing and there’s nothing like a walk through the woods to calm the static in your head. FYI walking along the beach is just as good for you.
Reading is another way to beat burnout. Just reading for fifteen minutes reduces stress by sixty percent, and you get the added bonus of opening up your mind to new ideas. Most authors are voracious readers. It’s one way to improve your craft and beat stress all at the same time.
Get together with your creative community. I get together with mine and they’re so good at building up my confidence. We go hiking or paint. Sometimes we just go out for a bite to eat.
Shopping. Sometimes a little retail therapy is all you need to get those creative juices flowing again.
So, there you have it. Five things you can do when the burnout bug hits. How about you? What are some of the activities you do when you get bitten by the bug?
Leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!
What, me burnout? Wink. When I get stuck or just plain tired, I take a nap to recharge or go for a walk just to get out of the house. Depending on the season, gardening helps wonders. Love to read and get out of my head, even if it’s research for the book. Great post, Lisa! Hope your neck is healing fast, girlfriend!
Thanks, Sharon! My neck is getting better, slowly but surely. I can’t wait until I can run again. I forgot about naps. Naps are a great way to recharge. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They’re greatly appreciated !!
Spending time in nature is a wonderful cure for burnout.
It is! I love hiking in the woods!
I find talking with a loved one about what’s bothering me is another way to get stuff off my chest and mind x I then find I feel lighter so less likely to have burnout. Great tips here, Lisa! I hope you get over the pinched nerve soon.
Thanks, Christy! I love your idea of talking over things with a loved one. That’s a great way to get things off your chest. Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your input!
Hiking is always a good idea to take a break from stress. Shopping is definitley one of the most popular activities among women. Reading book? well, it is kind of difficult when your mind is buzzing with many things.
So true. However, when I read, I find that the buzzing in my head slows down. But it might not work that way for everyone. Thanks for stopping by, Arv. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with all of us. 🙂
There’s an ebb and flow to my reading and writing–I do think they help me to not burn out on one or the other! Great post!
Thanks, Rebecca! You’ve got a good point there. We need to rest when we’re not feeling up to the work. Listen to our bodies! They’ll tell us what they need, right? 🙂