A writer once experienced difficulty in writing. He tried all he could till he was spent, all to no avail. Frustrated, he went outside for a nice swim and a warm chat with a friend. When he returned, he was able to gather his thoughts and write seamlessly.

We’ll take a wild guess, your nerve ends are tingling, your brain just blew a fuse and your fingers are blue from continuous typing. You need to let out steam. This is practised by all, but for writers, it is a necessity because our productiveness depends on the state of our minds. If a writer is overwhelmed and stressed, he/she becomes inefficient.  

As a writer, a good day in the sun, sumptuous food in your belly, and breeze in your hair will do you more good than a high pile of cash.

You don’t believe us? Are you of the school of thought that agrees that back-breaking hard work is the way to success and nothing else?

Ha!

If you don’t slow down, you’ll be dead before you finish your bestseller (that is if you can write the ‘bestseller’).

Still not convinced?                                                                                                    

We have proof—science!

Science says, ‘Your hormones get ugly when you’re stressed’.

When the secretion of hormones like cortisol which plays a very important role in helping the body respond to stress and regulating blood pressure increases, it leads to a rise in blood pressure, weight gain, insomnia and worse, reduction in blood sugar.

So yes, your body goes flip crazy when you’re stressed. Not to mention depression and other mental and emotional pay-offs of stress on the body.

Pray tell, with the above-listed effects of increased cortisol hormone levels, do you think you’ll be able to make it down the road to success?

Science also says, ‘Your brain is less creative when you’re stressed’.

Have you wondered why you write creatively in your head but struggle to put words down the minute you power on your computer? The reason is simple—your brain works better when you’re not trying!

Negative emotions like tension and stress hamper your mental activities. They throw creativity out the window and lock the doors. The next time you’re searching for an opening line, a brilliant conclusion or a catchy first paragraph, take a ten-minute stroll, connect with your environment, breathe, take a glass of water then, return and write.

Again, science says fun and games boosts your creativity and stimulates your imagination.

Creativity and imagination are the power couple of writing. Inspiration, creativity and a sharp imagination are key when writing.

What if you have none of these?

What if your brain is so swamped that your imagination is crying for help?

In this state there is very little you can achieve. In times like these, writing becomes as painful as having your head trapped in a bear’s jaws. Much as writing is never easy, it shouldn’t be loathsome.  

Today, take the day off, relax your bundled up nerves, breathe, breathe again. A happy brain is a creative brain.

There is a popular myth among people about writers and writing. It is the belief that writing comes easy and natural to writers. You may even have had that assumption when you first started writing yourself. However, while it is true that writers like other creatives have moments of inspiration, a lot of what is created happens through hard work and discipline.

As a result of lack of inspiration, writers often find themselves in a rut, especially if working on some serious topics that are out of their comfort zone. There is the temptation to get down to business. That often means that creativity and imagination are at risk of being thrown out of the window.

Yet creativity and imagination are just the ingredients you need to connect emotionally with your audience, touching them in ways they do not expect, as you, as a writer, go the extra mile in stretching your writing abilities by putting your own spin and unique take on an issue using both imagination and creativity.

Now, let’s get down to business. Below are tips you could use in enhancing your writing.

1. Expand your reading palette

For most writers, their love for words comes from their passion for reading. It is by reading that you learn about the world around you; reading takes you out of your own experience and into another person’s experience. As a writer, if you want to get better at writing, the one thing you can do and should do is to read more. The more you read, the more you learn how to write. Expanding your reading palette means that you develop your writing capability. The result is that over time you can begin to write different genres and go beyond your comfort zone. Every writer has the style or type that comes naturally to them, but reading a diversity of books opens up your mind to the possibility of trying out different styles and genres.

1. Practice writing from different perspectives

When trying to be creative and imaginative, just thinking about things from a different perspective could be the answer. It can be the change you need to add more life to the article or story you are writing. First, writing from a different perspective requires that you are well-read on the subject you are writing about. Then using your imagination, you can tell, narrate, or describe from different perspectives. When you write from different angles, you enrich your story and give your readers more to think about and relate with as they get to be part of the story. Besides, writing from different perspectives stretches both the writer and the reader’s imagination, as it gives the writer the room to tell a more productive and more nuanced story.

1. Be specific and detailed when creating settings, examples, and scenarios

Sometimes, as writers, we focus on the central element of the story or the characters. But if you are searching for ways to spice up your writing in the creativity department, then look no further than where you set your story, the examples as well as the scenarios you use in telling the story by being specific and detailed. You can create a rich and diverse world for your characters or have the story painted in more powerful ways that have more of an impact than just getting straight to the point. Detailed settings and scenarios allow you to add more texture and colour to your storytelling.

Conclusion

No matter what style of writing you are working on, thinking creatively and using your imagination will enable you to take your work to a different level. So why not give it a try the next time you find yourself stuck as you write that paper that seems to be going nowhere.

Vikram Patel says, “Being mentally fit improves our overall wellbeing and prevents other illnesses.” And since deficiency in the mental status will have a severe negative impact on anyone, making it a priority can remarkably improve our quality of life.

Really, the importance of our psychological wellbeing cannot be stressed enough; neither is it out of place to assert that other areas of our being depend hugely on this to function optimally.

But sadly, especially within our demography, this singular aspect of our lives receives zero or no attention. There are various ways to maintain positive mental health and live a fulfilling and enjoyable life.

As a writer, there are few things to pay attention to:

1. Refrain from negative thoughts: No matter how overused this may sound, you are your thoughts. You act out what you brood over, which, if negative, can torment you mercilessly. So, it’s essential to pay attention and change them.
2. Shun toxic relationships: If it’s not improving you, it’s not worth it. If they are not helping you get better, they deserve no space in your life. Moreover, why give your time to irrelevancies at the detriment of your mental health. You deserve better!
3. Tend to your errors with love: How do you react to your mistakes? What do you say to yourself? “Oh! I’m such a failure,” or “I never do anything right.” Truth be told, we cannot completely erase our chances of tripping but we can control how we react to them.

Your first draft was nothing close to your expectation. Okay? The beautiful piece you invested all of your energy to develop received smothering criticisms. Okay? Well that’s not enough reason to crucify yourself.

Quit the cursing and self-belittling as they don’t solve anything. Instead, take a deep breath. Relax. Appreciate your efforts. Reward yourself for taking those courageous little steps. In reciprocity, your mental health would be bountifully rewarded.

4. Take care of yourself: This cannot be stressed enough. It is vital, no matter where you fall on the mental health spectrum. Self-care is a necessity! 90% of the time, our job as writers requires that we sit for a good portion of the day.

To minimize the toll that this can take, get up and stretch at intervals. Go for a walk if you can. When you do this, you’re improving blood circulation, which also helps to stimulate brain function. And when you return, you’d be a lot more productive. In addition, scrutinize your nutritional consumption thoroughly. Watch what you eat. Rest well.

And I cannot forget to add exercise as there are significant mental benefits hidden therein.

5. Unwind: Sometimes, we get so caught up in the daily demands of life that we forget to truly live. Once in a while, step out of your comfort zone and give yourself a break. Your body and overall health will thank you for it.

It is up to you to start making healthy choices. Not choices that are only healthy for your body but also your mind. Your mental health is a priority. Take care of it and stay fit.

Do you have other tips capable of helping us stay mentally fit as writers?

We look forward to hearing from you.