Writing is an energy-intensive activity, and it’s natural to get tired during a long writing session. When you find yourself dragging but you’re determined to push through the exhaustion and make some good progress on your current writing project, here are some quick fixes to get your energy (and words) flowing again.
Drink water: Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our work-in-progress that we forget to hydrate. Take a moment to refill your water bottle (ice water will especially help with flagging energy!) and be sure to drink from it regularly.
Eat a snack: How long has it been since you’ve eaten? Consider eating an energy-rich snack. Opt for something with protein, healthy fats, and a bit of sugar, such as trail mix, yogurt, popcorn, bananas or apples with peanut butter, or a smoothie. Avoid eating a heavy meal, as that will probably cause your energy to decrease.
Take an exercise break: If you’ve been sitting in one place for a while, get up and move your body for three to five minutes. Jog in place, do some jumping jacks, run up and down stairs, or stretch. This will signal to your body that it’s time for work, not for rest.
Change your writing music: If you like writing to music, try something new. Listening to a new genre or artist will wake up your senses and your mind.
Change your location: Maybe you’ve been sitting in your home office or one restaurant for too long. Try moving to a different room or—if your circumstances permit—even an entirely different location.
Change your sitting surface: Have you been on a couch or the floor this whole time? Move to an office chair or a kitchen table. You can even find a counter-height surface and write while standing.
Do a word sprint with a reward: Often, having a deadline can light a fire under us. Set a timer for forty minutes or so. Tell yourself that you can have some sort of small reward—a soda or coffee, a piece of candy, five minutes of funny cat videos—if you can focus on your work and keep your hands moving the whole time. Then start the timer and write as hard and fast as you can until the timer rings. When the time is up, take a five or ten-minute break and reward yourself. Then reset the timer and go again.
Experiment with these tips whenever you need an energy boost during a long writing session and find the ones that work best for you. And if you have any to add, I’d love to hear them!
Happy Writing!