Comments on: Your Mental Health as a Writer: Crucial Facts Copyblogger Forgot to Mention

By: Joe Bulger

Joe Bulger — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:15:30 +0000

Enjoyed this post James. I’m guilty of these things. Staying up too late, writing and surfing on beautiful sunny days.

I liked what you said about family and friends – “The best people to surround yourself with for support. The worst people to ask for an opinion.”

Joe

By: Hypnosis Melbourne

Hypnosis Melbourne — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:06:29 +0000

Great post, Its causing me to rethink some things

By: Randy Roedl On Wordpress Blogs

Randy Roedl On Wordpress Blogs — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:43:25 +0000

[...] Your Mental Health as a Writer: Crucial Facts Copyblogger Forgot to Mention [...]

By: Joanna Young

Joanna Young — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:35:28 +0000

I enjoyed this piece – and yes it was the headline wot grabbed me

Actually I’m finding that writing a lot is very good for my mental health – it makes me feel happier, more confident, clearer about things. It’s my physical health I need to take better care of – proper breaks for food, regular exercise and like you say, time outside – which is normally good for generating some writing ideas too

Joanna

By: James

James — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:23:13 +0000

You’re very welcome. I’ll trade you snow for rain, though… We’re currently experiencing heavy snow (18 inches in 10 hours and still coming down), making going outside a laughable joke. Even for Canadians.

By: Small Business Marketing

Small Business Marketing — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:09:56 +0000

Yeh right on.

I live in Portland and in the winter it rains all the time and the days are short and muggy and very conducive to hiding at the good old terminal and banging away. Thanks for the jolt back to reality.

I’m getting up right now and taking a break to step outside if only for a minute……..

Ciao

By: Cosmopolitan Link Karma | Copyblogger

Cosmopolitan Link Karma | Copyblogger — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:36:17 +0000

[...] Your Mental Health as a Writer: Crucial Facts Copyblogger Forgot to Mention [...]

By: James

James — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:42:32 +0000

My personal reason for not giving myself enough breaks is the feeling that if I go to bed, if I take a day off… if I dare to step away at the computer, something bad will happen. The business will crash, clients will go insane…It never occurs, but it’s hard to step away. Oh, yeah, that and the “one new mail!” addiction. I might miss something good

A second reason for not taking enough breaks is the fast pace of the world online. Everything is warp speed. There’s so much to do, as well. Be on top of this. Follow that. Work on this. Change that. Check your stats. Check your email. Check your to-do list. Manage your time. Manage your business.

Sheesh, when I take breaks, it’s almost a guilt-ridden sin. I feel bad. I rush to get back home and pick up the slack after a scant hour at the local skating arena.

@ Laura – I agree. People. Stop working at $2. Please. It’s just not healthy.

@ Deb – Good to have you around. And as a reward for stopping by, you’ve earned a free nap!

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:31:23 +0000

Good post (and good points)!

Actually, I think low rates are sometimes the reason that writers work themselves like this.

If a writer accepts a $2 article deal, they pretty much have to work 12 to 14 hour days just to make ends meet. If they negotiate a decent rate, they can afford to rest and spend time with family.

It’s definitely a reason to negotiate a good rate for yourself going into a project.

Of course, I guess that there could be other reasons that writers don’t give themselves enough breaks.

By: --Deb

--Deb — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:44:54 +0000

Oh yeah. Sleep. I knew there was something I was forgetting….