Mentally Drained… And Writing.
I’m sure we’ve all seen people online that make mental illness, specifically depression and anxiety into a “quirky” personality trait. I may be so bold to say most, not all, but most have seen the Tik Tok video captioned “The Lowkey Depressed Kid Starter Pack,” (which by the way my therapist said was not depression). While mental illness shows in many ways, it does not show in “lowkey” ways after your crush doesn’t like you back. I mean, yeah, that blows, but come on.
The real culprit is when people say “Just stop being sad.” “Stop overthinking.” “Worry less.”
Thanks, you cured me. I hadn’t even bothered.
As a writer, you grow up learning that you’re probably not going to get a job writing which leads to endless rabbit holes of depression and anxiety. I know, trust me. But I also know that I had mental illness before this shit hit the fan. It’s very difficult being an idealistic person with diagnosed depression and anxiety, but it’s doable.
Here are some do’s and don’ts that helped me better my mental health and stay on top of my writing despite mental illness creeping on me.
Do have a proper sleeping schedule. Do eat properly, it makes a difference on your day. Do have a routine, it makes you feel more put together and it leaves less room for your thoughts to creep up. Do make a list of things you want to accomplish throughout the day, checking them off feels so satisfying. Do listen to music every day. Do go outside at least once a day, it makes you feel less trapped. Lastly, do something you like to do just for fun. You’re allowed to have fun.
Don’t work in your bed, it’s not going to end up working. Don’t procrastinate. I know it’s hard, but again, make a list, it helps. Don’t blame yourself if you fall off track or get distracted, just start again. You waste more time by whining about what you should’ve been doing. Don’t work for hours straight. It’s incredibly draining and you’ll burn out quicker.
Now for the harsh reality, you will definitely have days where you’re just laying in your bed feeling either absolutely defeated or feeling nothing at all. Take mental breaks. It’s okay, we’re human. We’re not mean to be overworking ourselves. The best thing you can do during that, in my opinion, is acknowledge something is off and try doing simple tasks like making your bed. Though it seems like a minor thing, it’s incredibly hard to do anything when you’re in a bad head space so any form of work is an accomplishment.
Stay healthy.