It seems that a large number of writers suffer from a variety of chronic ailments, sometimes they even write about them in their articles and books. So my question is what comes first - the passion for writing or the ailments that plague us?
Writing can be a sedentary and lonely job. We sit on our derrieres and often forget to get up during the day and eat, run errands or just stretch our muscles. In addition, we’ll get our morning (or afternoon) tea or coffee and bagel or soda and chips and munch all day while we work. It’s not the healthiest of lifestyles. Sitting for long stretches is known to impair circulation and cause back problems.
We are driven to create our stories or record real life in words. What can we do to help us keep working at our passion without sacrificing our health? While exercise, diet, sleep and relaxation may not be the first things you think of when you want to hone your writing skills, it is a very important part of being a writer for the long-haul.
If you are holding down another job to pay the bills, then making time for writing is probably already taxing time you might have been using to sleep or otherwise need to meet your bodily needs. Time yourself; writing all night and then dragging yourself off to a regular 9-to-5 job without any sleep will catch up with you especially if you do that on a constant basis. Try substituting time you would normally watch a TV show or two instead of stealing from sleep time, exercise routines or eating meals in order to write. The same holds true for full-time at-home parents – don’t trade the crucial stuff in order to have writing time.
For all writers, do a minimum of one-half-hour exercise every day. Your exercise routine can be hefty aerobics, a casual walk, or low-impact stretching and toning. Mix up your routine. If you are worried that you are “wasting” time, you are very wrong. Exercise gets the circulation moving, helps rebuild bone and muscle strength, and can revitalize clear thoughts. Exercise doesn’t need to be high impact if your body is not up to it; if you have things like arthritis, brittle bones, respiratory difficulties, etc. you can use low impact and body toning exercises from The National Institute on Aging – check their website. If you have medical concerns, be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any rigorous exercise regime. Make sure you take a physical break every hour, just a few minutes, to walk around your office, stretch, do a squat thrust or two, etc.
Eat healthy foods. Not only will fatty, high cholesterol, calorie-laden foods add inches to your body’s frame, it will also muddle up your brain and thought patterns. Concentrate on high protein, low-fat, low carb, and high fiber foods (again, if you have a medical dietary restriction, run any diet plan past your doctor first). Limit your caffeine, don’t use it in order to stay awake after an all-nighter. Drink plenty of clear liquids with an emphasis on water. Keep healthy snacks on hand (celery sticks, carrots, cheese, apples…) for break time snacking. Step away from your computer (or typewriter) for meal breaks; not only will this give you a chance to change position but it wil also help you NOT to equate writing with filling your mouth.
Find time to meditate, read for pleasure, speak to family and friends, play word or other thinking games, on a regular basis (daily?) – this will help keep your mind active, refreshed, and clear. There are some things you can multi-task IF you need to “find more hours in the day”; for example, spend half-an-hour exercising while listening to audio-books, or take a digital recorder with you while you take a leisurely walk and work out story plots.
Keep your body and your mind healthy so you can keep producing words to create stories, provide information, and encourage discussion and thought.
Writing Exercise: Keep a journal for at least a week about your getting/keeping fit journey. Include the way you feel and physical improvements after dieting or exercise.
Writing Prompt: Using these words: arthritis, diabetes, respiratory, circulation, sedentary, exercise, rejuvenate, and revitalized – make a list of 3-or-more letter words you can make from EACH word.
Challenge Assignment: Research a medical condition that you or someone you know has. Get the facts about symptoms. Learn about treatment options. Find out if there is ongoing research into the disease/condition. Make a comprehensive list of research sources. Compose a 750-to-1000 word article to inform the public. Don’t make it personal, keep it factual but interesting and hopefully encouraging. Edit well. Submit it to a local newspaper or magazine that covers health issues – or – keep it as a sample of your writing that can be submitted when you apply for a writing position.
