Shopping

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!

SOL

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today with another Slice of Life Post. I reside in Michigan and we’re having an unseasonably warm winter. I appreciate this because last year was horribly cold and I was going through chemo. I couldn’t warm myself to save my life. I wore layers of clothing and bundled up under blankets to keep warm. It seems like ages ago, but it has only been a year since I had to undergo treatment.

So, the fact that I can take a walk in sixty degree weather, wearing my spring coat in December is something I’m grateful for. I enjoy walking in nature. It calms me and settles my rattled nerves when life gets too busy.

This time of year life gets hectic. The holidays, while fun can be stressful. My hubby and I went Christmas shopping last night and the crowds were overwhelming, especially to a couple of introverts like us. As you can guess, we avoid crowds as much as possible. They stress us out.

Since there were so many people, the lines to check out were long. We grew tired of waiting and patrons were grumpy. I made a mental note to start my shopping earlier next year and do it in the morning. I doubt the stores would’ve been so busy then.

http://allthefreestock.com/

Not only were the lines in the stores long, but traffic around the malls was heavy. Because of this, it took us forty-five minutes to travel to a destination that would normally take us twenty. I could feel the frustration growing inside of me. I tried deep calming breaths, which helped, but didn’t completely dissolve my angst. Glancing at my hubby, I found him hunched behind the wheel, white-knuckling it as he glared at the inconsiderate drivers trying to switch lanes in front of us.

Then I thought of last year. How I couldn’t help my hubby with the shopping because I didn’t feel well. I remember I wasn’t excited about Christmas. It had become a daunting task in the wake of my diagnosis and treatment.

I chastised myself for allowing some ornery people and insensitive drivers to have such a detrimental effect on my mood. I started thinking about my boys. I love the fact they still believe in Santa, and the fact that we have to take precautions so we won’t get caught with the presents. I appreciate that I’m able to shop this year for my boys. I’m glad I’m here and that I can share another Christmas with them.

santa claus and christmas tree — Image courtesy of Shutterstock

http://all-free-download.com/free-photos/free-christmas-images.html

merry christmas isolated — Image courtesy of Shutterstock

http://all-free-download.com/free-photos/free-christmas-images.html

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