Hey you, writer, step away from that desk!

I’m a Type A person. You know the ones, right?

We’re the ones that create hastags like #slowwalkersmustdie because, seriously, if you’ve got somewhere to go, hurry up and get there already! It’s not just because I’m impatient either. Walking is a great form of exercise and if you’re just dawdling along not getting your heart rate up, you’re missing out on valuable exercise. It’s called multi-tasking people!

Wikipedia describes us as ‘ambitious, rigidly organized . . . sensitive, impatient, take on more than they can handle, want other people to get to the point, anxious, proactive, and concerned with time management.’

I think that description is pretty good. Fortunately with a bit of experience under my belt, I’ve learned not to take on more than I can handle (mostly) and try not to let my anxiety get out of hand.

Stress relief for writers 101

Which brings me to this week’s musing of a Type A writer: stress relief for writers.

If we let ourselves, we can do all sorts of horrible desk related injuries if we’re not careful. Sure, you just have to finish that chapter, but you’ve been sitting at your desk so long your legs are starting to cramp and you could really do with a neck and shoulder massage . . .

Time to get outside.

This is a topic I’ve written about before. If you’re interested, you can read about some benefits for writers in going outside here.

I was reminded of the importance of getting away from my desk last week. My neck was bothering me (again). It’s a long running thing with me. Generally I’m pretty good but it wasn’t particularly surprising to me that hitting the milestone of finishing the first draft of the third book in my City Love series, that my neck should start causing me issues again.

So I took myself off to the physio. She told me no running for a week.

I reluctantly obeyed.

And, oh boy, I know it had to be done but by the end of that week? Seriously grumpy. I was a liability to my family and I was so grumpy I didn’t even want to be around myself.

Fortunately my neck settled down and off I went to get outdoors and do some exercise.

Can you hear that? That’s my giant sigh of relief. Everything is right with the world again.

For me, getting outside regularly is imperative. It’s my workout, my stress relief, it fends of anxiety, it makes me better able to deal with the demands of being a working mum, and it generally makes me a much nicer person to be around (just ask my husband).

Not to mention many a plot twist or character development is as a result of my getting away from my desk!

How about you? Is getting away from your desk important for you and your writing?

2 responses to “Hey you, writer, step away from that desk!”

Rob Kennedy

February 25, 2015

To be honest Belinda, I wish I had your problem. Getting to my desk is the issue. Finding time to write is so hard for many writers because we are constantly working at dull, boring jobs to make the money that our writing carers are not providing. The hardest catch 22.

Your comment about walking reminded me of a woman I once heard in the street. She was yelling at someone and saying” if you’re not on your way to the top get out of my way”. I trust that wasn’t you B?

Just kidding. I know it wasn’t you.

1. belindawilliamsbooks
  
  February 25, 2015
  
  Hi Rob. You’re right. Getting to the desk can be a big issue for many writers. I too suffer from procrastination although at the moment I simply don’t have time to procrastinate due to deadlines (which I realise is a really lucky place to be!) I have learned in recent months that writing is a job like any other. I get a lot of writing done at night and I can tell you, there’s been plenty of nights where I don’t feel like it. One of the skills I’m learning is the most important as a writer is to just get on with it and write! Easy to say I know, harder to do.
  
  No, I don’t think that was me who you saw walking down the street that time . . . I do have a tendency to talk to myself but try to curb that habit outside 😉