Battling Low Writing Morale with Smart, Positive Practices

I have a bad case of the Mondays.

Actually, I’ve had a bad case of the Mondays for a little over two weeks now, and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. My energy levels have plummeted, my mood has been overcast at best, and I have gotten along by doing only the minimum amount of meaningful work it takes to function and continue looking like a responsible adult.

I haven’t looked at my novel once (still stuck halfway through the first chapter). I toyed with the idea of trying the Pomodoro technique and put it off. I’ve read maybe one or two stories. And the last thing I want to do is write.

So I asked myself this morning, what do I want to do? The answer that popped into my head was, “stare at the wall and slip slowly into madness.”

Ah. I need a cup of coffee. Hang on a moment.

Better. And a blanket. And a hot pop-tart.

We all find ourselves in this place at some point in our lives, usually multiple times throughout our lives. We’re exhausted, demoralized, and it feels as if every little thing takes a monumental effort.

But we can’t stay here. Life must go on, work must be done, and it’s not fair to dedicate what little spunk you have left only to paying bills and fighting traffic. The things that make you happy and recharge your batteries deserve your attention too!

So how do we battle the effects of low morale, especially when it comes to writing? Writing takes a lot out of us. Ernest Hemingway famously said “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” When you’re already feeling down, entertaining the idea of writing can feel catastrophic.

Which is why this is the time to take baby steps and not push your mood even further down. This is the time to bolster your happy thoughts, not tear them down with guilt. So what if you haven’t written word one in a month? That’s not a long-term trend by any means. You can change that any day, so start with today.

Sit down. Have something to drink within easy reach. Maybe a bowl of snacks. Give yourself no excuse to get up and distract yourself with easier-to-satisfy needs. This time is for you. Listen to some relaxing, or thematic, music – whichever suits the writing you’re attempting to accomplish.

If you’re struggling to commit the time, why not consider giving the Pomodoro technique a try. This little trick has been applauded for its ability to increase your focus in lots of areas that require you to sit down and concentrate for extended periods of time: writing, reading, studying, etc. It gets a lot of attention for being a work technique, but don’t be afraid to use it for relaxation too. The idea is that you set a timer for 20-30 minutes, and while that timer is running, your attention is centered on one task only. If you find you have trouble getting the work done while time is ticking, you are allowed to sit quietly and think. Even this will get your mind into a recognized patter than when the timer is running, it’s time to get to work. Using those minutes for meditation will do you some good too (the brain keeps working, even if you don’t feel like you are!). Here’s an online timer you can use right now!

Remember also not to fall into the big traps of demotivating yourself even further. If you’re in a writing rut and you literally cannot bring yourself to continue, why not try sharing what you do have with a friend? They might have just the right comments to motivate you to continue. Or dedicate some real time to reading a book for enjoyment – it could be that your word well has become depleted.

Probably the best thing you can do right now, though, is speak encouragement to yourself. Don’t make yourself even more depressed by feeding the shadows with lies. This season will pass, and you’ll be back on your feet soon. Take little steps. Even if it’s only 20 minutes a day, try to get back into a positive rhythm.

What are your techniques for getting out of a writing rut? Let me know in the comments!