By Michelle Griep, @MichelleGriep
It’s every newbie writer’s dream to garner a contract or two, but be careful what you wish for, little cowboy. When those contracts come at you, there are these things called deadlines. There’s a reason for that word, as in you’re dead in the publishing water if you don’t get your manuscript in by the agreed upon date.
But no problem, right? Because hey, after all, you’re a writer, eh? There’s just one small glitch with that line of thinking, Hoss. Life. Sometimes life gets in the way of writing, until you get so stressed out you crumple in a heap of overwhelming despair. Even if you’re not a writer, life can be overwhelming. How are you going to cope?
Here are a few ways to take care of yourself when the going gets tough . . .
Sleep
It seems counterintuitive to sleep when you’ve only got so many hours in a day and you should be working toward meeting your goal, doggone it! But here’s the deal, you NEED to get your 8 hours of Zzz’s in or you won’t be creative. You won’t even be coherent. Keep a regular sleep pattern especially during crunch times.
Unplug
Yes, marketing and social media are part of the writerly game, but every now and then you need to unplug, even if it’s just for a day. The world won’t come to a screeching halt because you’re out of touch for twenty-four hours. Disconnecting from crazy will soothe your inner beast.
Exercise
Don’t freak out over this. I’m not saying you need to put on a leotard or bench press until you’re sweaty. Get outside and go for a walk. Breathing in fresh air has a way of clearing the cobwebs out of your mind while giving your body some much needed cardio.
Redirect
Everyone needs a mindless activity to zone out with. Some like to knit. Others, like me, play Wordle. Whatever it is, spend a few minutes each day indulging in a mindless something (key word: FEW minutes, not hours on end).
Meditate
The Bible advocates being still and knowing that God is God. How are you going to do that if you’re running around like a decapitated chicken? Grab a verse and think on it, word by word.
Whenever you find yourself in a busy season, make sure to add these five self-care tips into your schedule.
Detective Jackson Forge can hardly wait to marry the street-sly swindler who’s turned his life upside down. Kit Turner is equally excited to wed the handsome detective, and what better way to show her love than providing him with a gift any man of the law would love? She determines to bring to justice the men who years ago maimed his brother despite Jackson’s warning to leave the past in the past. As she digs into the mystery of what happened, she unwittingly tumbles into her own history and endangers her future happiness with Jackson.
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. An Anglophile at heart, you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel…but it’s probably easier to find her at www.michellegriep.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And guess what? She loves to hear from readers! Feel free to drop her a note at michelle@michellegriep.com