Many people think of writing as an easy job. Stare out the window. Sip your coffee. Type out a fabulous scene.
And there’s some truth to that! Writing can be really enjoyable. I’d never do it if that weren’t the case. But there are some health issues associated with writing.
Here are some health hazards people deal with when they spend a lot of time writing.
The problem: lack of sleep.
Writers who work full-time, and/or are parents or caregivers, often skimp on sleep to get their writing done, staying up late or dragging themselves up out of bed before dawn.
Many of us are perversely proud of ourselves for functioning on little sleep. I am guilty of this myself!
That’s probably because we don’t hear enough about the necessity of sleep to good health. When we’re sleep-deprived, we’re less sharp mentally and more prone to overeating. Our bodies produce too much cortisol, a hormone that can slow metabolism, raise blood pressure, and make us more susceptible to infections, depression, and mental illness. In my own experience, when I start noticing signs of depression, getting good sleep is an effective defense.
The solution: get some rest, obviously.
It’s not worth winning NaNoWriMo or hitting your self-imposed deadline if you make yourself sick or depressed in the process. Take care of yourself, and you’ll be more productive in the long run. Even more important, you’ll be happier.
The problem: stress and anxiety.
For writers, an ordinary day may include a bloody battle scene, the dearth of a beloved character, or a bitter breakup. Conflict is vital to a good story. It’s all in our heads, but our brain isn’t actually that great at separating fiction from real life. When we write about strife, sorrow, or trauma, we often have some of the same physiological responses as we would have in real life, and that can take a toll.
There are real-life pressures involved with writing, too, just as there are with any job. Deadlines, difficulties with a projects, and rejections (even though every writer gets them) can all add to a person’s stress.
The solution: walk it off.
Even a short walk will help you release writing stress. And if you’re feeling that stress because you’re creatively stuck, there’s no better way to get un-stuck.
The problem: repetitive motion injuries.
Hunching over a keyboard for hours can lead to tight neck and shoulder muscles and even pinched nerves. I’ve experienced the latter personally, after a period of working long hours, including a few all-nighters. It’s no joke—it’s very painful, and you can’t do any work until it gets better.
Writers may also be susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome, a nerve condition that can become serious and require surgery.
The solution: stretch at regular intervals throughout the day.
You might want to set alarms on your computer or phone.
Here are some easy ideas for how to stretch, from Dr. Levi Harrison.
And here are some from Dr. Jo that are specifically targeted against preventing carpal tunnel.
The problem: general neglect.
Finally, writing can simply distract us from caring about our health. When we’re caught up in the world and the events of a story – and especially when we have a deadline to hit – we may not care much about basic things.
The solutions:
1. Drink water.
If you drink a lot of coffee or Coke (or God help you, alcohol) while you’re working, replace some of those servings with H20. It helps you think more clearly, and it’s good for your digestion, your skin, and the health of your kidneys.
2. Eat some fruits and vegetables.
You need some vitamin C from foods like strawberries, oranges, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, and my favorite, pineapple. Nobody likes a writer with scurvy! (Okay, that’s not true. If you get scurvy, people will still love you. But you don’t want to deal with it!) You also need beta carotene, which comes in carrots, kale, spinach, cantaloupe, red bell peppers, apricots, and more.
3. Try some yoga.
Morning or evening yoga is also a great way to stretch, and it calms your mind at the same time.
Every time you do something to take care of your physical well-being, it’s good for your mental health, too, because you’re sending yourself a message that you’re important. And you are!
Do you have advice for taking care of yourself — mentally and physically — as a writer? Let us know in the comments! thanks for reading, and happy writing!
I’ve found a terrific technique I use. I bought a headset and go out every morning, recording the day’s writing on my iPhone with a recording app. Moving helps me brainstorm the day’s work. I walk for about 90 minutes, covering 3.5 miles and climbing hills. (This works out to over 7,000 steps.) This gets my blood pumping, and because I can’t retype anything, that make it easier to overcome my perfectionism.
Then when I get back to the house, I use Dragon Naturally Speaking 15 to transcribe the dictation. I do have to edit it, because Dragon does misunderstand words, though it’s MUCH more accurate than earlier versions of the program. I use the dictation as scene notes while I dictate the actual pages while looking at the screen. (This allows me to catch the program’s mistakes and correct them.) As a result, I use my keyboard a LOT less, which saves me wear and tear on the hands. And I get in 10,000 steps a day, as the American Heart Association recommends. Otherwise, I’m lucking to get in 3,000. Even if you can’t afford Dragon, you can listen to the audio file and transcribe it by hand. I’ve done this a couple of times when the recording wasn’t the best.
Transcribing isn’t hard, because there are often long pauses while you think about the next line. And since the first draft is the hardest draft for me, it’s a twofer. Otherwise, I’m not sure I’d walk every day. I used to spend six hours writing my 10 pages. Now I can do it in about three or four. So it’s worth it. And it really does free up my writing. (The first draft is the hardest part for me.) I’ve gone from one or two books a year to three.
Angela, that is so interesting! Dictation seems really foreign to me, but still, the health benefits would really be something. I’m going to think about trying this! Thanks for posting!
This post is so timely for me because I’m guilty of/suffering from most of these issues at the moment. Lack of sleep…not too bad. But stress/anxiety…yes. Repetitive motion…yes. General neglect…to some extent, yes. I’m so seriously looking forward to finishing this first draft because my body feels like a bundle of mish-mashed wires and my brain is slowly melting. As much as my kids bring a challenge to my writing schedule, I’m glad they help break up my day and get me away from the computer. My husband and I walk them to school when it’s not raining…we walk to the local grocery store to pick up the essentials (carrying home 6 litres of milk plus groceries…awesome!)…I thoroughly clean up the house once a week and do general chores that get me moving. Today I pulled out my bicycle and rode to school with my 4-yr-old. Next year when all the little ones are at school, we’ve vowed that we’re joining the local gym. I have far less to complain about than most people because I don’t have an outside job to worry about, my family/married life is terrific, and I really love what I’m doing. Nevertheless, this persistent knot under my right shoulderblade is kicking my butt, and I’m so close to finishing the first draft that I’m nearly willing to crawl through broken glass just to get to the end. lol I’m dealing with the climax of the book right now, and talk about nerves: I’m killing off beloved characters, leaving empires in ruin, and generally wrecking my MC’s life. At this rate, I should make my self-imposed October 31 deadline…just gotta drink plenty of water, breathe deep, and burn a lot of incense. 🙂
Oh, man, Lisa…the knot under the right shoulder blade is the worst. I’m right there with you!
I never thought about kids getting a person away from the computer! That knot might be worse without them. 🙂
It can be so rough finishing a draft! Hang in there, but please get some rest, too!
I found this post very interesting. I have had surgery on my wrist for carpel tunnel. was not good. I also love writing and have done NaNo. We now find not doing NaNo and just enjoying writing out stories and Novels, along with our poetry when inspired to write that kind of thing. We love reading your blog and this site is very interesting what you post and we also have your book and now getting into your stories. You have some good information on this blog. We also have a blog. We just don’t post their often. If you have any suggestion on how to get back to my blog, let me know. Raven.
Hi, Raven! It’s nice to hear from you. I hope you’ve recovered from carpal tunnel! I really appreciate your reading the blog…and getting the book, too! I think blogging gets easier when you make it a consistent habit, but that’s just my experience. Thanks for commenting!
Yoga is awesome! Even child’s pose is good because it’s relaxing.
It really is great!
Hi, just wanted to drop a quick post to say I enjoy your blog and the various writer’s lists you have compiled. I discovered your site after purchasing your Master Lists For Writers book, and it’s been a useful tool for me. I shall recommend your book and site to other writers and aspiring writers I get to know.
Hi, Stephen! I’m so glad the Master Lists book is useful. Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me — and telling other people. too. I really appreciate it!
That’s good advice. Great reminders for those of us who regularly forget!
Thanks for commenting, Cynthia. Take good care of yourself this week!
You’re right, Bryn, lack of sleep is a big problem for this writer. My ritual is to wander the house at night, unable to sleep in that bed, trying another, and another, hoping that I get a few hours. But I’ve been dealing with this problem so long my writing awareness has grown accustomed to it and I can write clearly and expertly on so little sleep most people would marvel. But ohhhhh I would love that dream of dreams–a full night’s sleep. Thank you for the post.
I’ve had repetitive injuries – sore forearm from over-scrolling. I will try stretching every 30 minutes and let you know how it goes
I get that too!! I do think stretching helps a lot.