by Rachel D. Russell, @RDRussellWrites
If you’ve found yourself at the keyboard for hours and your step tracker still shows only double or triple digits halfway through the day, you aren’t alone. Writing is a sedentary task. There comes a point where you must plant yourself at the keyboard and type. If you have a desk day-job as I do, then it means a day spent seated at work followed by an evening seated at my writing desk. This isn’t good for our bodies on so many different levels.
God designed our bodies to move and you’ve probably heard all the health risks associated with too much time sitting. So, how do we find ways to move when we need to write? I’ve found it’s easiest if I incorporate movement into my day with some creative tools and a timer.
I start most days with either a gym workout or a walk. Keeping movement as part of my wake-up routine sets the tone for the entire day. You don’t need to join a gym or even step outside if there’s inclement weather. Pull up a YouTube yoga video or indoor walking workout. If you have limited mobility, work within the parameters of what you can do.
Try a sit-stand desk. You can buy a desk with an automatic or manual adjustment at a variety of price points. Feeling creative? Craft your own with weighted boxes or storage tubs. You can then alternate positions throughout your writing time.
With my sit-stand desk, I like to use a portable stepper or wobble board (also called a balance board). You don’t have to use them continually, but it’s an easy way to intermix your periods of standing with some actual movement to prevent fatigue.
Another option is to sit on a physio ball. These large, inflated balls are often seen in the offices of physical therapists and you can pick one up at a sporting goods store or some drug stores. Sitting on the ball allows you some movement in your hip joints.
Set a timer to go off once an hour and take a five-to-ten-minute stroll, do some arm circles, wrist rotations, or shoulder shrugs. If my hands are feeling fatigued, I also will grab a soft foam “stress ball” to squeeze and release a few times.
There will be times when your focus requires you to sit still and simply write, however, if you can incorporate a variety of movement into your day, you may find that not only do you feel better physically, but you feel better mentally. Taking a brief break from writing could be exactly what your mind needs to get the creative flow moving again.
Do you have a favorite way to incorporate movement into your writing time?
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Rachel D. Russell writes contemporary inspirational romance filled with action and adventure. Set in Oregon, her stories incorporate the diverse and rugged landscape of the state and focus on redemption, hope, and healing. She’s enjoyed a long career in the federal government and has also become a prolific freelance writer and novelist. Rachel graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in biology, chemistry minor. She draws on her previous law enforcement experience and her love of the outdoors to craft her stories. Rachel lives in Oregon with her husband and sons. Her hobbies include horseback riding and holistic health. Learn more about her writing journey and upcoming books at RachelDRussell.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and here wellness blog SoulSparkPublication.com.