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If Christmastime ever makes you sad, make sure you take some steps to protect your mental health for writing in December…
Now the calendar has flipped to December, your mind has probably turned to Christmas.
For some people, however, Christmas is a time of stress and anxiety.
If you’re a writer, it’s especially important to attend to your mental health because it’s all but impossible to write if your mood is going sideways.
Here are seven helpful questions you can ask yourself:
1-Are you getting enough sleep?
When party season starts, many of us begin trying to burn the candle at both ends. We stay out late (perhaps drink too much) and then have to drag ourselves to work the next day. It’s okay to do this a couple of times during the holiday season, but don’t make it a daily or even weekly habit. You’ll just end up cranky and unhappy. All human beings need seven to nine hours of sleep each night (the specific amount varies with the individual), and if you get less than this, you’ll pay the price for it.
2-Are you experiencing burnout?
Burnout can be traced to five primary causes:
- Overwork
- A lack of motivation or reward
- Work that doesn’t suit your skills or interests
- A work environment that’s fear-based and highly political
- Having to deal with too many emergencies, both at work and at home
I know, Christmas is not the time when you want to think about changing jobs. But at least be clear about your boundaries: Sure, there may be temporary projects that require burning the midnight oil, but as soon as they’re done, be sure to take time off to compensate. Then resume a normal working week.
If your work environment (or your boss) is the problem, take some steps to address it. Speak to HR or maybe get some counselling. If the issue is your home life, start talking to your family members about changes you can make to ensure you’re all happier.
It can be challenging to recover from burnout, so take the steps you need to ensure it doesn’t happen in the first place.
3-Are you feeling overwhelmed with tasks you need to do?
Some people take on too much, especially at times of year like Christmas. Train yourself to never say “yes” to anything right away. Always ask for at least 24 hours to think it over. And then, before you give your “yes,” remind yourself that most tasks take 50 to 100 percent longer than we expect. Do you really have enough time? If you find it difficult to say “no,” see my post on the topic for some tips.
It’s especially tempting to agree to take part in extra activities over Christmas because so many of them (especially parties or concerts) often sound like such fun. But remind yourself that putting your feet up, playing some Christmas carols on your sound system and enjoying a fire might just be more enjoyable for you.
4-Are you suffering from depression?
A complex combination of genetic and environmental factors contribute to depression.
I’m not a mental health professional, so if you think you might be dealing with it, please go see your doctor. Here are the main symptoms:
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep disturbances ranging from insomnia to excessive sleeping
- Extreme fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Negative thinking
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Persistent sadness
- Loss of interest in life
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
People who endure a traumatic event or go through a major life change are at higher risk for developing depression. So are people who have family members with depression. Burnout can also be a risk factor. Christmas depression (also known as holiday depression) is a recognized phenomenon.
Please get help if you need it. There is no shame in needing help.
5-Are you getting enough exercise?
Most of us don’t get nearly enough exercise. Now, I’m not going to tell you to go to the gym three times a week. Instead, I’ll just say that being a couch potato is not only hurting your body, it’s also affecting your mind.
If you want to feel better, mentally, make sure you’re moving your body enough. And don’t do it as a punishment — instead, find an activity you really enjoy. You might take up a sport, like tennis or squash. Do you like the water? Consider swimming. Or if you want something that’s incredibly easy and requires almost no gear, do what I do, and walk. I get roughly 20,000 steps a day and it keeps my back pain in check and helps my mood stay high.
6-Are you getting outside enough?
Staying inside all day, even if it’s winter, makes us all feel blah. I’m sensitive to lack of light (I have what’s called SAD — seasonal affective disorder), and I have a special lamp on my desk to use during the winter. But getting outside is the best cure of all.
Even on a cloudy day, you get significantly more light outdoors. For comparison, a brightly lit kitchen might have around 400 lux, while a cloudy outdoor day provides 1,000–2,000 lux. And fresh air helps, too.
If you’re lucky enough to live near a park, forest or trees, go there for a walk so you can get the benefits of enjoying nature.
7-Have you identified at least three activities that make you feel great?
And are you doing them regularly? We’re all different people and different activities comfort and soothe us. For me, my three choices are:
- reading
- baking
- walking (with family and friends if possible)
Your choices will vary, but please, give this issue some thought. And then make plans to pursue these activities whenever you’re feeling stressed.
Looking after yourself needs to be something you do all year round. But take a little extra care in December, when it’s easy to feel down.
If you liked this post, you may also like: How to become a happy writer
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Need some help developing a better, more sustainable writing or editing routine? Learn about my three-month accountability program called Get It Done. There is turn-over each month, and priority will go to those who have applied first. You can go directly to the application form and you’ll hear back from me within 24 hours.
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My video podcast last week addressed how to work from home. You can watch the video or read the transcript, and you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.
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How do you protect your mental health for writing? We can all learn from each other, so please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the “comments” section, below. And congratulations to Julie Mahamed, the winner of this month’s book prize, for a comment on my Nov. 26/24 blog about books I read in 2024. (Please send me your email address, Julie!) If you comment on today’s post (or any others) by Dec. 31/24 , I’ll put you in a draw for a digital copy of my first book, 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. To enter, please scroll down to the “comments,” directly underneath the “related posts” links, below. You don’t have to join Disqus to post! Read my tutorial to learn how to post as a guest. (It’s easy!)
