We all experience burnout at some point in our lives. We often expect so much of our creative minds that we don’t know what to do when our creative energy falters. For those who love words, this can happen: we ingest so much good literature that we don’t know where to go from there. It’s hard to move forward. Often, we will simply sit there and say, “ What next? How do I move on? But there are ways to jumpstart your journey.
1. Take a walk.
Sometimes it’s really this simple. Reading and writing are solitary acts, often forcing us to sit at a desk with our computer or on the couch with a book or a pen or pencil in hand. Thus, we don’t end up moving for hours. Our bodies become cramped and begin to scream, “Hey! I really am going to fall apart if you don’t get out that door and go for a walk. You’re killing me!
Walking, or any type of exercise, is a good way to recharge. The good thing about books is that they’re always going to be there. It’s not like they’re going to get up and walk away while you’re out taking care of yourself. This can also help you gather your thoughts about a plot or help process what you’ve just read.
2. Switch up the genre.
I’m not kidding. Sometimes if you read one specific genre (fantasy, contemporary, literary fiction, etc.), it can get old. Soon it seems like you’re reading the same sorts of stories over and over again. You might be missing out on something incredible if you don’t spice up your reading life.
3. Make use of small bits of free time.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in school or have a full-time job, sometimes you’ll find yourself killing time, scrolling endlessly on Twitter or Instagram. If you don’t want to read at home at the end of the day, put a book in your bag. A good time to get a lot of reading done is on your commute to work or school, or when waiting for things to begin or if you don’t want other people to bother you, take a book out while you wait. Even in small chunks of time, you can get in some quality reading.
4. Take a break.
Seriously, it’s okay to take a step back from the manuscript you’ve been working tirelessly on. Your health is important. Don’t let work overpower your body. If you’re stuck, talk it through with a friend over coffee or read similar content to your current project. Or perhaps take a total break and just watch a movie.
Hopefully these tips are helpful. We all experience burnout once in a while. Sometimes the simplest thing we can do is to take a step back. And then, when we get our creative juices back, it can be really, really exciting.