Kicking Burnout Down the Road

Burn out. Most creatives have a set limit of energy availability. Even if my story is going smashing, I find I can’t write two thousand words a day for three months. Full stop.

This year I wanted to test that theory. My stretch goal was finishing two new novel drafts. Killing Me this year’s Nano has about twenty thousand more words to go. Rescue me has about twenty thousand words to go as well. Ideally, I want to finish both.

That may not happen. While I can write forty thousand words in a month, my creative well empties leaving me alone and exhausted. After nano this year, I took a break. Seven whole days where I gamed, ate, and decked the halls. My house looks like Christmas invaded. I love it.

I’ve got several writer friends who out write me all the time. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. One of the biggest factors in burn out is comparing yourself to other people. Yes, I know. I shouldn’t. But I do.

Writing goals for December are going to be low. I want to enjoy the holidays and leave myself with enough energy to embrace all the joy. My family deserves that. And so do I.

That’s one of the biggest release valves to burnout. Recognizing I don’t have to EARN time off by doing all the things. You don’t have to write X amounts of words to enjoy time with your kids. Nor do you have to work your butt off to have the right to time off.

I don’t need to justify to myself or others where I’m at with my writing. Asking for help is something I could get better at, but it doesn’t give others a free pass to criticize how I do things. Competition has laid low so many professional writing organizations. Our need to be perfect and win has born a level of division unseen in the years I’ve been writing.

Burnout is scorched earth. At least in my world. Often, I beat myself up for resting. We’ve all heard famous writers and their word count daily goals and long working hours. As I learn my craft, I may write with abundance. But in this season of my career, writing until I can’t write anymore seems ridiculous.

Things that help me during burnout. Reading a good book. Playing video games. Long, hot showers. An outing. Getting outside. Amazon everything. Candles. Cold can of coke. My guy. My beagles. Art journaling. Crafting projects. A nice dinner out. Meditation. Journaling.

Almost all of those examples are free. Every single one of them are about the five senses. Cold drinks, hot shower, beagle cuddles and letting the sun kiss my face. It’s about refilling my well. In the past, I’ve gone to museums and let the past soothe my present.

Things I don’t do to heal my exhaustion. Alcohol. Drugs. Yelling at people. Getting mad about everything in the world. Overeat. Ignore the world.

There isn’t any salvation in the bottom of any bottle, whether it’s alcohol or some other substance. The only time this hasn't been true is when I had a serious infection and the meds made me loopy as heck. I was writing a contemporary romance for Nano. Editing that book was a huge laugh. It was also a ton of work.

I’m a homebody, so going out and being with people rarely helps matters. But when I get really exhausted, strategic outings are needed. Realizing there are other people in the world besides your family and your characters releases you to imbibe other people’s stories. That reciprocal back and forth allows for fresh growth and more energy.

It’s the first day of the last month of the year. Anything is possible. Write, but rest. Let the holiday vibes refill you. Happy writing!