Being a productive writer is all about finding the right balance. If you’re too relaxed, you’ll never get anything done. But if you’re too stressed, you won’t be able to focus on your work. So how can you find that sweet spot and become more productive? It starts with relaxing to focus better. Check out these tips to help get started.
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Take regular breaks
Being a writer means being creative and imaginative, but it also means being productive. When you’re relaxed, your mind can think freely and develop great ideas. Relaxation helps increase productivity because it gives the brain time to process different thoughts.
To be more productive as a writer, try regular breaks when writing:
- Close your eyes for 5, 10, or 15 minutes
- Go for a walk outside or on a treadmill
- Listen to a podcast
If you can’t relax by yourself, then find someone who will help you out. Remember that relaxation is vital if you want to be at your best when you return to your writing.
Make slowing down part of your routine
We all live and work in fast-paced environments, making it hard to slow down. For example, when I worked in corporate, I remember days that started at 5 a.m. and ended at 10 or 11 p.m.
To slow down, start with things you are already doing:
- Take a long bath or shower
- Plant flowers or vegetables
- Listen to music
- Read 5 or 10 pages of a book
You can find the peace and relaxation you need to return to your writing by slowing down.
Take a nap
Taking a nap is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind. It gives your brain a chance to regenerate by shutting off your conscious thoughts. In his book, Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt calls naps one of his secret productivity weapons. Hyatt describes how he takes a 20 or 30-minute nap every day after lunch.
I love this idea. When I worked full-time in my corporate job, I never dreamed of taking a nap on the days when I worked from home. But now that I run my own business, I embrace the idea of taking a nap when I need one. My days are long. By 4:30 a.m. I am up and moving. My morning routine includes devotional time with God, at least one workout, working on my latest writing project, and client writing assignments. Naps help to recharge my brain so I can continue my work. Sometimes, by the time I reach noon, I need a 10-minute nap.
Get creative in the kitchen
Mental health experts believe that cooking can help you manage stress by giving your mind a break to focus on something new and unfamiliar. Through cooking, we can turn our attention away from the outside world.
In addition to cooking, I find that watching cooking and baking shows helps me relax. In the beginning, my go-to cooking show was the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten. In addition to her soothing, calm voice, Garten made dishes I could see myself cooking. My latest stress-reducing favorite: School of Chocolate. Watching pastry chef Amaury Guichon create works of art out of chocolate is both fascinating and relaxing.
