Digital Self Care for Writers

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

The world has changed.

And the process has been exhausting. 

Even when we come out the other side of this pandemic, life is going to look very different. I’m holding tight to the hope that it’s going to be better. But it’s hard for me to equate different and better because I’m not a fan of change. 

But one thing I have learned is this:

We must learn to balance our digital lives as carefully as we balance our physical ones.

My natural tendency has always been all or nothing. I go and go and go . . . and then I drop. Not really the healthiest way to do life. And this pandemic has given me the excuse I needed to revert to type. 

But now I'm exhausted. And I'm once again reminded that it’s really hard to get water from a dry well.

So now I'm going back to the lessons I've learned in recent years and I'm going to share them with you.

Here are some of the things that work for me:

• Weekends off are now the norm, NOT the exception. I just function best on Monday, if I have Saturday and Sunday for rest and relaxation. That means little or no time on the computer on those days. I’ve learned that if it’s urgent I’ll get a text or a phone call. Everything else can wait. One other thing I’ve learned by taking weekends off—if I don’t, pretty soon EVERY day feels like Monday.

• Learn to limit digital meetings. It's tempting to schedule meeting after meeting to try to be productive. But online meetings are exhausting. They take a tole on us physically too. Zoom exhaustion is a real thing right now. 

• Families come first. My good friend, Lynn Huggins Blackburn said it best. “Sometimes writers don’t write—they bake cookies.” I wouldn’t trade the years I had as mommy to three growing boys. No best-selling book in the world would have been worth passing up that time. The same comes with hanging out with my parents now. Time is limited, and I try to never forget that.

• Be aware of the pressure right now and make your own decisions. There is a lot going on in the world and we all feel the need to make a positive impact. But we need to weigh our options and decide how we want jump in and not just cave into outside pressure. 

• Relationships matter, and beyond that, they need nurturing to survive. This goes beyond the obvious family relationships. I’m talking about friendships here. As I said early, the world has changed. But that's no excuse to isolate. I may have to work harder, but it's still important to spend time with the people I care about, I show them they are valued. 

• Field trips are time well spent. I used to visit museums and bookstores, now I take long walks and search for places to spread my photography wings. Take time to explore the cool places nearby, you won’t regret it, I promise!

• It’s okay (even encouraged) to have hobbies that have NOTHING to do with writing and/or reading. Many of you know I love to take pictures. I also love to do crafty things like knit and journal. Beyond that, I have a group of craft-minded women that I meet with occasionally. We sit together and work on projects and creativity seems to just hang in the room. And none of these women are writers. But I always come away with a renewed enthusiasm for writing.

• Be gentle with yourself. I've been irritated with myself lately because I can't seem to control some of my emotions. I'm more prone to anger, tears, hopelessness, and over the top joy. I never know what's going to set me off and the lack of control frustrates me. 

• Seek time apart with God. Right now so much of my daily schedule is in shreds. My sleep habits, eating habits, and even my regular time with God. But now more than ever I need regular time with God.  

Now it's your turn. What are you doing right now to take care of yourself digitally? Share your tips for renewing and relaxing in the comments section below. Who knows, some day we may once again be able to visit a museum together and have a cup of coffee!

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie 

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Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives.Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram.