When writing takes over

I’ve read a lot of tips and tricks on how to get your ass into the writing-chair, but haven't found much on how to get back out of it. This probably has more to do with my skills of digging through the endless mass called internet than any lack of suggestions.

I first realized I had a problem when I looked up to find out the weekend was already gone when I'd still thought it Friday. I exaggerate. But being lost in my writing for 12+ hours at a time has happened more than once.

My sister paused me one day and said she was going to add upp all the hours I was spending in that chair. It turned out that on top of my full-time job and training 6 days a week (yes, don't forget the body needs exercise), I spent over 50 hours every week writing. Sounds productive, right? Not really.

I used my lunch breaks, travel to and from work, evenings, and the entire weekend to write. I was even getting up earlier every morning to get writing done before work. I never had time off. And in turn, I lost track of it.

I’d forget to eat, forget a human body needs to use the toilet now and then, even forgot to sleep. I'd do a double-take at the time, realizing I only had a few hours until another day of work starting in just a few hours.

Neglecting friends and family so completely was bad, but neglecting my own recovery was even worse. It was hard to get out of the habit of over-writing since it meant less words were being put on the page, but I realized that overheating my engine and having to abandon the spluttering vehicle on the side of the road wasn’t going to get me to my destination any faster.

I had to find a balance in my writing. Gift myself the free time to just recharge my batteries. Spend time with the people I love.

So, if you’re anything like me and have a hard time getting out of that chair, try to find a balance that’ll favor your surroundings, your writing and yourself. Give yourself time to recover. Do the things that bring you joy. Who knows, you might even find yourself more productive than before the break, the things put on paper ending up less altered with a rested mind. I know that I, for one, have at least been accompanied by a clearer head and sharper writing after getting some balance back into my life.