Self-Care for Writers and Other Introverts

How do you recharge? If you’re introverted like me {most writers and bloggers I know seem to lean that way} your self-care probably involves quiet reflection and alone time.

Writers by nature tend to be introspective and spend lots of time by themselves. It sort of comes with the territory. Self-care for writers {and other introverts} needs to incorporate restful, low-key activities. We also sometimes require reminders to take care of our basic needs, because we’d rather be thinking than doing.

However, have you noticed that a lot of self-care advice out there is aimed at extroverts? Go out with friends for a drink! Plan a spa day! Hit the beach! Personally, this is not what I need to take care of my mental well-being at all.

I don’t know about you, but I am also over “self-care” advice that tells me I need a bubble bath, a glass of wine, or to pray/meditate more. Nor am I into suggestions that involve tons of cash or lots of pre-planning, like a weekend getaway. 

You will not find that here. Instead, this list includes super simple self-care ideas to implement right now for free with zero or minimal planning. This is what self-care for writers and other introverts looks like.

Of course many of these suggestions can and do apply to non-writers and extroverts. But, I definitely had fellow writers and bloggers in mind when I composed this list.

Drink Enough Water

Oh, come on—you knew this would be near the top of the list, right?

Spoiler alert: This may not mean 8 glasses a day.

But, I promise you, if you make a commitment to consuming more water each day, you will not regret. It is like magic, truly.

One easy way I have started doing this myself is any time I think “oh, I’m thirsty” instead of just getting a quick sip I drink a whole cup. It takes only seconds more, and if you do this a couple times a day you will increase your water consumption considerably. 

If you need reminders, you could try setting silent alarms on your FitBit, or setting a phone reminder, or even just developing a plan where you take a drink after every page of journaling or every half hour of editing.

Get Some Sleep

As a general rule I aim to be in bed for one hour longer than the amount of sleep I feel I need. So, if I am at my best with at least seven hours, I block off eight hours for sleep. 

I know I am a very light sleeper {thanks, parenthood} and I also wake up at least twice a night on average, so I figure adding an extra hour balances things out. 

Check here for approximate sleep needs by age.

Establish a Morning Routine

Even if you are not a morning person, establishing goals to start your day will help you to feel more on track. 

Having a basic morning routine will make your days less stressful. Knowing what to expect when you roll out of bed each morning puts you on a kind of relaxed autopilot. You can physically and mentally ease into the day instead of worrying what to do next.

Keep in mind this does not mean you need a detailed itinerary of how you are going to save the world before 6:00 a.m. It simply means you need a morning routine that works for you, however mundane.

You don’t need to wake extra early {get up whenever works for you} or accomplish specific tasks. The routine does not need to be elaborate, but if making a checklist helps, by all means do so. The key is to have a plan that works for you.

Also, give yourself permission to do things in the order you like. If you want to check your social media accounts first thing, by all means do it. If you’d rather read, then do that.

Eat Only Until Satisfied

Stay with me on this one. I am not encouraging you to deprive yourself of whatever kinds of food you want to eat. That is your business and yours alone. 

What I am saying is that I have never regretted eating only to when I feel satisfied but not full. 

It is easy to lose track of time while working on a blog post and forget to eat. Or do the exact opposite and get so absorbed in your writing that you don’t realize you’ve been mindlessly snacking while working.

Make a conscious decision to plan mealtimes, and then eat until you are no longer hungry, no matter how tasty the meal is. If you have trouble figuring this out—I sometimes still do—aim to put what looks like a reasonable amount of food on your plate and eat only that {no seconds}. 

Especially if you eat dinner close to bedtime you will be amazed at how much better you feel when you go to sleep at night not feeling sluggish from a big meal.

Add Fitness To Your Day

Too often folks give up on the fitness aspect of self-care because they feel it has to be all or nothing. But you don’t need to run three miles, take a one-hour yoga class, or hit the gym to feel better right now. 

Even something as simple as stretching daily to improve your flexibility over time {and working out any soreness or stiffness} is a step toward taking better care of yourself.

This does not need to be first thing in the morning. I swear I think every self-care piece I have ever read includes some line about putting on exercise clothes as soon as you wake up. Get in a workout before the day gets away from you! Ugh.

Exercise whenever it works for you. For me it’s between breakfast and lunch, usually around 10:00 or 10:15. The Agents participate as well; it’s part of our current homeschooling routine.

Usually this is a specific weights routine {which I have written down, because, of course I do} and lots of stretching. Later in the afternoon I walk outside. {Right now around my own backyard, but still.}

On a related note, not sure who needs to hear this, but:

You. Can. Have. Fitness. Goals. Unrelated. To. Weight. Loss.

Nothing grinds my gears more than folks assuming if you exercise regularly your primary goal must be to get thinner. Gah.

Working out is fun and being stronger is awesome. Fire up your favorite playlist {my teen and I just added some Hamilton songs to ours} and enjoy yourself.

Wash Your Hands More Often

Seriously, this is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself. Not just in the fall and winter months or during flu season, but year round.

The Agents and I have all gotten into the habit of washing our hands as soon as we come back into the house, regardless of where we have been. Even now that we don’t really get out much {yay, Covid-19} we still try to remember to wash our hands frequently.

Of course you will still have times when germs get the best of you, but I have found that since we began doing this regularly we have minimized sick time at our house.

Develop a Mantra

One aspect of my former religious life I actually miss is the soothing repetition of saying a familiar prayer. Sometimes you just want to have a calming verse at the ready, like a verbal security blanket when stressed.

So what’s a heathen to do? Consider poetry, movie quotes, inspirational writing, mythology, and more.

I have found that any positive words will do, as long as you have them memorized and can use them to center your thoughts and relax your mind. The repetition of the words, the simple act of sitting quietly with your thoughts, is the critical factor.

You could also make this part of your morning routine, or part of your pre-writing routine.

Write It Down

Those of you who know how into homeschool planning I am might be surprised to learn I do not use a paper or online planner. It is just not something I ever got into. 

Instead, I clear my thoughts by making simple to do lists. I have used both paper and online notes and I don’t really have a preference. 

Writing things down allows me to mentally dismiss tasks until I am prepared to deal with them. This results in me being more productive in the moment.

Put Your Phone To Bed Early

I leave my phone upstairs when I take a shower in the evening {usually around 6:30 p.m.} and do not use it again until the following morning {usually around 5:30 a.m.}. 

The only thing I check before I go to sleep is if I have any texts or missed calls from family. {A habit from years ago when my dad was first ill and that’s how I was kept updated.}

Related to this, I only have notifications set up for phone calls and texts, no social media. That way I never even see the little red button and never have to overcome the temptation to click on it.

All of your notifications will be there in the morning. Your readers will not fault you for not responding immediately.

Do you incorporate any of these ideas for self-care for writers into your daily routine? Do you have additional simple tips for self-care for writers and other introverts that work for you?

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