Last week, I went into editorial overdrive to meet November targets for my WIP. Quite frankly, it left me a little worse for wear, and over the weekend I Tweeted my thoughts about burnout.
I’ve been working from home for the majority of 2020 and 2021. I sit at my home desk each day for my job and then stay on after-hours most days to work on my writing projects. Over the course of the pandemic, burnout is something I’ve become very familiar with – both in terms of myself and the teams I manage at work.
General stress from the pandemic, as well as lack of holidays (travel restrictions have been ongoing in Asia since early 2020), and the reduced distinction between home and work life, have all contributed to this. I recognize the early stages in myself with irritability, increased cynicism, and inability to concentrate. More severe burnout for longer periods can result in a variety of symptoms including exhaustion, headaches, digestive problems, anxiety, and depression.
As writers, we’re always piling pressure on ourselves to finish projects and meet deadlines. Many of us do this in our spare time – early in the morning, late at night, or on weekends. This is particularly pertinent right now as many are finishing off # NaNoWriMo2021 projects and working hard to hit word counts by the end of the month.
While I know this style of working is part and parcel of the writer’s experience for many – and certainly I am unlikely to change my working practices anytime soon – I would advise all writers to become familiar with burnout and be cautious of when you veer off into burnout territory. This article from the Mayo Clinic has some great guidance on the subject, and I recommend reading it.
Completing our writing projects is so important to all of us but let’s also keep an eye on our mental health and well-being. Sitting behind the computer for long hours – whether for work, WIP, or both, can take its toll. Knowing your limits can help – as can knowing how to switch off and relax. Ultimately, it will help your process as well. Writing a novel is a marathon – not a sprint, and you need to make sure you’ve got enough in the tank to keep going the distance.
All the best, NaNoWriMo-ers! For the rest of you, take it easy!
Great article and certainly identify with that feeling especially when trying to finish WIP projects and juggle everyday life.
Thanks Simon. Glad to hear it resonates with others. Certainly a pervasive and less spoken about issue amongst indie writers who have to keep the plates spinning!