In our last post, we explored the nurturing of creative work and how it relates to the nurturing of healthy longevity. Today, we look at writer wellness and creative longevity that helps us reap the rewards found in the moment and the long run, as we live towards the ultimate deadline with both healthspan and creativity.
Morning Foundations
Consider starting your day with a protein-rich breakfast to fuel your focus and muscles. Hydrate early and often for clarity and balance. Get thee into the sunlight to scoop up Vitamin D to strengthen bones, and spark creativity as well as set your personal circadian clock to a better night’s sleep
Body Activation
Every writer and creative spends time seated for the scribbles, doodles, and designs that develop their art in the service of deadlines. Regular movement, even hourly, keeps the processes lubricated, along with shaking off stiffness. Fluidity of thought goes with good overall circulation. Never mind that is also adds strength. Pick a movement that motivates, and you’ll find it also energizes the process, right?
Mind and Mood
Here’s another M word to motivate you to increase the longevity of your career and your life. Meditate with an add-on of breathwork to calm nerves and sharpen focus. How many times have we gotten so deeply into our work that we hold our breath? Reset and destress with meditation. Start small if you can’t bear to sit still and breathe. Try journaling separate from your work, mumble or write a gratitude list. Breathe deeply into the diaphragm to lower cortisol and open creative flow.
Nourishment & Recovery
There’s every imaginable lotion, potion or pill to take, from bone broth for collagen to teas, exotic and ordinary and supplements galore. Find the right elements in the mix and you’ll enjoy joints that support you in your tasks at the development drawing board, connective tissue you can call on to implement your vision and the scaffolding that supports longevity.
Connection & Creativity
Presenters who muster energy to engage an audience and creatives who toil privately until their work goes public are all fuelled by ritual. We’ve gotten a glimpse of some famous folks’ rituals, but here we’re talking about what you need to stay grounded and in balance. A social ritual where you call a friend, greet a neighbour or chat with family. This all greases the wheels with stories new and retold, but most importantly, keeps your spirits and, therefore, physical energy, high.
I personally don’t overschedule myself with social contact. I do have it randomly and spontaneously, often with great reward. I rarely ‘do lunch’ with anyone, for example. I do have multiple social interactions in varying forms and duration on the way to that lunch. Could be strangers en route. Might be breaks that range from text, social media exchanges, phone chats on speaker while accomplishing physical tasks, or simply pausing to elevate my legs after hours of seated work, and recharging while enjoying someone’s very human and present voice on that phone. Lunch out might be an artist date with myself, or a chance to read for enjoyment or review printed work in an environment different from the original work.
I’ve read that for social contact, we might need different doses on different days. It also varies with our dispositions. It could be a shot glass is enough for intraverts, or the midway point of a mug-sized serving of social contact. And then there are the extraverts, or any of us on a day we need more of a boost, the size of a beer tankard to satisfy our social needs!
Your writing ritual is up to you. The implements might be a colourful or coiled notebook, laptop, or pen — begin with a sentence, a list, or an image. Up to you.
Consistency fuels both health and art.
